In a significant parliamentary address on Thursday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne unveiled Antigua and Barbuda’s fiscal blueprint for 2026, positioning education as the cornerstone of the nation’s developmental agenda. The budget presentation revealed a strategic allocation of $220.1 million to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, marking it as the single largest recipient of recurrent expenditure funds. This substantial investment underscores the administration’s dedication to enhancing educational accessibility, particularly through the planned tuition-free initiative at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus following necessary infrastructure upgrades.
The financial distribution further highlights substantial commitments to other critical sectors. The Prime Minister’s Ministry and Ministry of Finance & Corporate Governance secured the second-largest allocation at $196.9 million, followed by $147.5 million designated for the Ministry of Health, Wellness, the Environment and Civil Service Affairs. These funds are poised to bolster healthcare services, facility improvements, and staffing enhancements across the nation.
Additional major allocations demonstrate a comprehensive approach to national development: $124.6 million for public safety and legal affairs through the Attorney General’s Office, $121.7 million for infrastructure and housing development, and significant funding for tourism ($39.1 million), foreign affairs ($35.5 million), social transformation ($31.9 million), agriculture ($29.5 million), and technology/energy sectors ($15.9 million).
The broader fiscal framework for 2026 encompasses $1.21 billion in recurrent spending alongside $236.4 million in capital expenditure, with emphasis on infrastructure projects including roadworks and public building renovations. Personnel costs constitute the largest portion of recurrent expenses at $504.5 million for wages and salaries, followed by $336.4 million for pensions and transfers, $231.2 million for goods and services, and $138.4 million allocated for interest payments.
Prime Minister Browne emphasized that these allocations reflect a government committed to economic stability, sustained growth, and equitable distribution of progress benefits. He noted the projected maintenance of both primary and overall surpluses for the third consecutive year, signaling continued fiscal responsibility. Parliamentary debate on the budget is scheduled to resume next week.