During an official ceremony Thursday marking the handover of a China-funded housing development project, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne made clear that China holds the position of his small island nation’s most critical development partner, emphasizing his government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the bilateral partnership even in the face of potential pressure from third parties.
Browne’s comments came as China formally transferred ownership of Pelican Court, a 150-unit affordable housing complex built on a roughly EC$50 million Chinese grant, to the Antigua and Barbuda government. The project replaces the decades-old substandard Booby Alley informal settlement in St. John’s City West, delivering safe, modern housing to low-income families that previously lived in deteriorating, unsafe structures. Browne labeled the project the most socially impactful Chinese-backed initiative in the country’s modern history.
Repeating his assessment for assembled attendees, Browne stated that over the past 30 years, no other country has delivered more tangible support to Antigua and Barbuda’s national development than the People’s Republic of China. He noted that Chinese investment and assistance have been instrumental in expanding the country’s core economic and social infrastructure, adding that without this support, marginalized and vulnerable communities would have borne the brunt of unmet development needs.
In bold remarks defending the bilateral partnership, Browne said, “So let us continue to march on with China as our most important development partner. And whoever wants to punish us for that relationship, feel free to do it.” He did not name any specific country or detail any threatened punitive measures during his public remarks.
The prime minister went on to highlight that the partnership between Antigua and Barbuda and China sets a powerful example of productive cooperation between a large global power and a small island developing state, despite stark gaps in population size, natural resource endowments and geographic scale. He also drew a contrast in how Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership is received by the two major powers, noting, “I can’t even get a call to President Trump, but I can get a meeting with President Xi. That shows you the degree of respect that China has extended to Antigua and Barbuda and other small states.”
In a subsequent interview with local outlet ABS, Browne estimated that total Chinese support for Antigua and Barbuda’s socioeconomic development, delivered through a mix of grants and concessional loans, has surpassed $1 billion to date. He stressed that safeguarding the partnership is a core national interest for Antigua and Barbuda, arguing that any external attempt to undermine the bilateral relationship directly undermines the country’s development progress. “For any nation to try and undermine that relationship, they’ll be literally undermining our development,” Browne said. “And we have to defend our development, notwithstanding any punitive action that may be taken against us.”
Speaking separately at the event through an interpreter, the Chinese ambassador reaffirmed the core principles guiding the 40-plus-year bilateral relationship, which has been built on a foundation of equal treatment and mutual respect. She emphasized that both sides share mutual gratitude for the partnership, and that China consistently upholds respect for Antigua and Barbuda’s national sovereignty and independent policy choices. A key point she stressed was that all Chinese cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda comes with no political strings attached.
Beyond building physical infrastructure, the ambassador explained that Chinese cooperation also includes capacity building support, such as knowledge sharing and skills training programs designed to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s long-term independent development capacity.
Housing development will remain a central pillar of the partnership moving forward, both leaders confirmed. Browne announced that construction on a second phase of 100 additional Chinese-supported affordable homes – 50 units in Bolans and another 50 on the island of Barbuda – is set to break ground within 60 to 90 days, and the Chinese ambassador confirmed that pre-construction preparations for the project are already well underway.
Looking ahead to further expansion of housing cooperation, Browne has formally requested Chinese support for a third project: 300 additional condominium units at Perry Bay, which will address unmet housing needs for residents of Rural West. While Browne said he is confident Beijing will approve the request, formal approval has not yet been finalized. The ambassador confirmed she will forward the proposal to relevant Chinese authorities in Beijing for review.