Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced a historic milestone for Antigua and Barbuda’s Customs Department, which recorded its highest single-day revenue collection last week. Speaking on the ‘Browne and Browne’ show, Browne revealed that Customs collected an unprecedented EC$3.7 million on Monday, a figure that underscores the success of recent administrative reforms aimed at enhancing oversight and reducing revenue leakages at the country’s primary port of entry.
Browne emphasized that this record-breaking achievement reflects the government’s efforts to strengthen revenue monitoring and optimize the port’s financial performance. He noted that the port had historically underperformed relative to its potential, but the recent surge in revenue indicates that the administration is now ‘getting value for money’ and addressing systemic inefficiencies.
The Prime Minister’s remarks coincided with discussions about planned upgrades to the port to accommodate increasing cargo volumes and attract international shipping firms. Browne highlighted the growing importance of the port’s revenue performance as Antigua and Barbuda seeks to capitalize on expanding regional transshipment activity.
During the program, Sir Molwyn Joseph, a key figure in the discussion, urged the government to adopt a more business-oriented approach to port management. He stressed the need for daily financial analysis and real-time anomaly detection to ensure predictable revenue outcomes. Joseph also called for enhanced port security, stricter cargo movement controls, and improved managerial oversight to maximize the port’s potential as a major revenue center for the nation.