Prime Minister Gaston Browne has firmly refuted allegations that his government is considering the creation of an independent ‘YIDA State’ within Antigua, labeling such claims as baseless misinformation. Addressing the issue in a recent online statement, Browne emphasized that the Yida Special Economic Zone operates under a conventional framework akin to similar zones worldwide. He explained that the zone merely hosts satellite offices for government agencies, such as customs and civil aviation, to enhance service efficiency and support investment activities. These offices are funded by the zone’s operators, ensuring streamlined regulatory processes without granting any form of sovereignty or autonomy. Browne’s remarks were in direct response to an article by Real News Antigua, which had suggested that the Chinese-backed YIDA development might evolve into a self-governing entity exempt from Antigua and Barbuda’s laws. The report had further alleged that the zone could establish its own parliament, government, and currency while remaining under the country’s Constitution—a proposal reportedly opposed by some legal experts but allegedly endorsed by Attorney-General Sir Steadroy Benjamin. The Prime Minister’s clarification underscores that the government’s approval is strictly limited to administrative functions aimed at fostering economic growth and simplifying bureaucratic procedures. The YIDA project, initially approved nearly a decade ago, was designed as a private-sector initiative to stimulate tourism and industrial development in northern Antigua.
PM Browne Denies Claim of Separate ‘YIDA State,’ Says Zone Only Has Satellite Government Offices
