Carib Scope

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  • G20 Finance Ministers to Tackle Global Growth, Debt and Financial Risks in Asheville

    G20 Finance Ministers to Tackle Global Growth, Debt and Financial Risks in Asheville

    Against the scenic backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, top financial policymakers from the world’s 20 largest economies are preparing to convene in Asheville for a two-day summit starting August 31. The 2026 G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting comes at a precarious moment for the global economy, with nations across every region still struggling to overcome uneven post-shock growth, ballooning public debt, escalating financial market volatility, and growing systemic risks tied to unregulated digital assets. As this year’s G20 president, the United States has anchored the summit’s entire agenda around boosting long-term, inclusive global growth.

    For U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his team at the Treasury Department, the core priority is advancing policy frameworks that strengthen sustained growth, catalyze private sector investment, and dismantle what U.S. officials call long-standing structural barriers that hold back workers and enterprises. The Biden administration has made expanding private sector leadership a central theme of its G20 presidency, pushing for greater private involvement in global economic decision-making beyond traditional intergovernmental talks. This push builds on outcomes from the G20’s April 2026 spring meeting, where finance leaders mapped out the key barriers holding back stronger global expansion: overly burdensome regulatory red tape, misaligned tax and financial incentives that deter investment, insufficient combined public and private capital deployment, fragmented domestic market barriers, and growing gaps in workforce skills and labor mobility.

    To follow through on this commitment, private sector representatives already met with G20 deputy officials in May to brainstorm industry-specific growth strategies, with additional cross-sector engagement planned for the remainder of the year through the G20 Finance Track. Beyond core growth priorities, persistent global economic imbalances between major economies are set to be a major focus of debate in Asheville. The U.S. Treasury has repeatedly warned that large, unaddressed imbalances distort global economic activity and create cross-border financial vulnerabilities that can trigger systemic crises. In response, Washington is pushing all G20 members to conduct a thorough review of domestic policies and structural conditions that contribute to these imbalances. As part of this effort, G20 members are finalizing joint guidance for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to strengthen how global imbalances are monitored and assessed across economies.

    Sovereign debt distress will be another headline issue on the Asheville agenda. The U.S. is leading calls for greater transparency in government borrowing practices, as well as more predictable, timely debt restructuring processes for low- and middle-income countries facing financial insolvency. During its presidency, the U.S. has collaborated closely with the Paris Club to draft and publish a model memorandum of understanding for use under the G20 Common Framework for debt treatment, creating a clearer template for future restructuring negotiations. Washington is also urging broader G20 participation in the World Bank’s Debt Data Sharing Exercise, an initiative designed to improve the accessibility and accuracy of global public debt data, closing gaps that have long hampered debt resolution efforts.

    Financial regulatory reform will also feature heavily in discussions, with the U.S. arguing that updated regulatory frameworks must balance financial stability with the need to avoid unnecessary restrictions that choke off investment and growth. Key U.S. priorities include modernizing global financial regulation and supervision, reducing cross-border regulatory and market barriers, and creating flexible policy space for responsible financial innovation. One of the most urgent areas up for debate is digital finance: G20 officials are working to establish clearer legal and regulatory guardrails for digital assets, while also strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) controls and enforcement against illicit financial activity tied to crypto and other decentralized assets.

    Other key items on the Finance Track agenda include reforming cross-border payment systems, updating bank recovery and resolution frameworks, and coordinating global efforts to combat financial fraud. Much of the technical work on these issues has already been completed through leading international standard-setting bodies, including the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). In a push to protect vulnerable consumers, G20 officials have also been reviewing national financial literacy strategies and sharing best practices for financial education, with a specific focus on equipping consumers to identify scams and protect their assets from fraud. This work builds on a global financial literacy roundtable co-hosted by the World Bank and the U.S. G20 presidency during the April 2026 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, as well as a U.S.-sponsored Financial Literacy Solutions Sprint that highlighted innovative technology and data-driven approaches to expanding access to financial education across G20 member states.

    With a broad slate of critical economic issues on the table, the core mission of the Asheville summit remains unambiguous: to craft coordinated global solutions that build greater resilience into the international economic system, while unlocking private investment and driving sustainable, inclusive growth at a time of persistent global economic uncertainty.

  • ‘Put our nation first’

    ‘Put our nation first’

    Ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s 64th Independence Day celebration, a cross-section of the nation’s top religious leaders have shared unvarnished reflections on the country’s post-independence journey, balancing praise for hard-won democratic gains with pointed calls to address deep-seated social, economic and political fractures. The question of what successive governments have gotten right, where they have fallen short, and what path the nation should take next dominated the conversation, with some leaders opting to decline direct judgment on governing performance while others offered frank assessments of the country’s current state.

    Nearly all leaders joined in consensus on the country’s most significant achievements over 64 years of independence: the steady preservation of democratic governance and meaningful progress expanding access to education, healthcare and national infrastructure. Many highlighted that the ability to maintain a functioning democratic system, with guaranteed freedoms of speech, movement, religion and fair elections, represents a major milestone after emerging from colonial rule. As the Inter-Religious Organisation president Dr. Ellis Burris noted, successive governments have successfully transitioned away from colonial rule and sustained a people-centered democracy that allows all citizens to openly express their views.

    Beyond institutional gains, leaders celebrated the nation’s wealth of high-achieving citizens, who have earned global recognition in fields ranging from academia and athletics to arts and culture. Roman Catholic Archbishop Fr. Jason Gordon noted that Trinidadians’ stellar performances in track and field, football and scholarly pursuits give the nation ample reason for pride, echoing a sentiment shared across all participating religious groups.

    Despite these highlights, leaders were unified in identifying pressing challenges that have gone unaddressed 64 years on, as well as core priorities for the nation moving forward. The most consistent call across all responses was a push for greater national unity, with leaders urging citizens and politicians alike to set aside divisions along racial, religious and partisan lines to prioritize the collective good of the country.

    Gordon framed this as the nation’s defining unfinished task: “Two races were given their freedom, but it did not automatically build a nation. The challenge is to put Mother Trinidad ahead of our tribal and ancestral preferences. It’s about time 1.3 million people stop co-existing and start to become a people.” He added that individual gain-seeking has undermined nation-building, noting that rising wealth will only deepen divides without a shared commitment to equitable institutional development. Gordon also pointed to deep unaddressed problems: rising violent crime, persistent unemployment, growing poverty, a failing justice system, and the dire plight of unhoused residents scattered across Port of Spain after the closure of the city’s only homeless shelter. He also called for sweeping reform of an education system that has failed to serve large swathes of the population, while acknowledging positive recent steps including the Mercy Committee’s prisoner pardons and ongoing prison reform efforts.

    Bishop Claude Berkley of the Anglican Diocese echoed the focus on unity as the central test for future governments, noting that uniting the nation’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious population remains the greatest governance challenge. “Historically, all the peoples have worked to build this cosmopolitan nation. We all have a stake in it. I encourage patriotism and love of country,” he said, declining to label specific government actions as successes or failures and instead urging continued collaboration through difficult times.

    Bishop Dr. Victor Gill of Redemption Christian Centre added that while successive governments have maintained relative national prosperity that positions Trinidad and Tobago as the commercial heart of the Caribbean, major failures include the breakdown of the judiciary, repeated delays in bringing criminals to justice, unnecessary cultural changes including the removal of the Trinity Cross symbol and renaming of the nation’s highest honor, and crippling political polarization that has left voters consistently dividing along racial and partisan lines rather than supporting policies that benefit the entire nation.

    Tobago Hindu Society president Pulwathy Beepath offered a more measured assessment, noting that while governments have made mistakes, they have kept the nation united and are taking meaningful steps to address pressing issues, including expanding education grants for low-income children ahead of the new school year and rolling out new community police posts that she hopes will curb rising crime. She called for expanded outreach to vulnerable groups including elders, single mothers and at-risk children, and voiced a core independence wish for an end to the wave of violent home invasions that have terrorized communities.

    The sharpest critique of government performance came from Imam Alimool Rahim of Masjid ul-Raheem in Mayaro, who argued that low-income and marginalized communities have been largely forgotten after 64 years of independence. Rahim pointed to unfulfilled promises of basic infrastructure including pipe-borne water in long-underserved areas, deplorable road conditions that damage residents’ vehicles, inadequate equipment and medication in public hospitals that has led to preventable deaths, and unfair treatment of senior citizens whose pensions and benefits fail to meet basic needs. “Almighty God has blessed us with so many resources, yet we still have so much poverty and pain,” he said, questioning the longstanding political promise of “better days” that have yet to arrive for many citizens.

    On emerging technological issues, Burris offered guidance on the growing use of artificial intelligence in public administration, urging leaders to treat AI as a supportive tool rather than a core governing pillar. “We should not lean heavily on AI. It should not be allowed to run the country. Instead, it should give support to individuals and organisations,” he said, adding that a core priority moving forward must be building economic stability that delivers shared prosperity for all citizens.

    Across all reflections, leaders closed by calling for shared collective action, greater compassion for vulnerable populations, and renewed commitment to putting national interest above individual or partisan gain, extending blessings to the twin-island nation ahead of its 64th independence celebration.

  • $2.39m debt case: T&TEC sues Scotland

    $2.39m debt case: T&TEC sues Scotland

    A high-stakes legal battle has emerged in Trinidad and Tobago, where the state-owned Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has launched formal High Court proceedings against Senior Counsel Keith Scotland—now a sitting government minister—and junior attorney Keisha Kydd-Hannibal over catastrophic missteps in a $2.39 million corporate debt recovery case. The utility, which is seeking millions in compensatory and punitive damages, accuses the legal team of procedural failure, professional misconduct, and deception that left its long-sought claim permanently time-barred earlier this year.

    T&TEC first retained Scotland, practicing through his Virtus Chambers, in November 2022 to pursue unpaid electricity charges totaling $2,392,220.11 from local food manufacturer Flavorite Foods Ltd, along with accumulated interest and legal costs. According to T&TEC’s August 27 Statement of Case, led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC, what followed was a cascade of unreported procedural errors and false misrepresentations that ultimately erased the utility’s legal right to recover the debt when the statutory limitation period expired in January 2025.

    The first debt recovery claim, filed in December 2022, was automatically struck from the court’s docket after Scotland’s team failed to submit a proof of service affidavit and move for default judgment, per T&TEC’s allegations. Rather than disclosing the dismissal to the utility, T&TEC claims Scotland intentionally misrepresented that the original claim had been voluntarily withdrawn and re-filed—a false statement he knew was untrue by September 2023 at the latest. Scotland acknowledged in pre-action correspondence that he instructed Kydd-Hannibal to re-file the claim and pursue default judgment if Flavorite Foods failed to mount a defense, court documents state.

    A second claim was filed in October 2023 without T&TEC’s formal approval. Over the course of 2024, the utility says it was repeatedly told an application for default judgment was already pending before the court, when in reality no such application was ever submitted. By August 11, 2024, the second claim was also automatically struck out for inactivity, a development T&TEC was never informed of. A third, unauthorised claim filed later in 2024 was never properly served on the defendant and was also automatically dismissed in August 2025, again with no notification to T&TEC.

    T&TEC holds Scotland personally liable for the failures, arguing that he was the only attorney formally retained under a written retainer agreement, and he bore ultimate responsibility for overseeing all litigation activity. The utility alleges he failed to monitor court deadlines, ensure proper filing and service of claims, pursue default judgment, and keep T&TEC updated on the true status of the proceedings. Critically, when Scotland was appointed to government in August 2024 and ceased private legal practice, he failed to complete an orderly, transparent handover of the active case to new counsel, leaving T&TEC in the dark about the collapsed claims.

    In addition to claims of breach of contract and professional negligence, T&TEC has advanced an alternative claim of deceit centered on the false representation that the first claim was withdrawn and re-filed. The utility argues Scotland knew the first claim had already been struck out, yet either made, approved, or allowed the false statement to stand without correction. If the court finds Scotland did not make the misrepresentation himself, T&TEC argues Kydd-Hannibal did so falsely.

    Scotland has forcefully denied all allegations through his legal team, pushing back against T&TEC’s narrative. He admits to drafting the original claim form and statement of case, and acknowledges learning the first claim was automatically struck out, before advising the matter be re-filed. However, he claims Kydd-Hannibal subsequently informed him the second claim had been properly served, no defense had been filed, and the default judgment application had been fully prepared. Scotland says when he joined the government in August 2024, he notified T&TEC he could no longer practice and proposed handing the full file to Kydd-Hannibal, who he claims was separately retained by the utility as instructing counsel. He also denies any involvement in or knowledge of the third unauthorised claim.

    T&TEC rejects both Scotland’s claims of a separate retainer for Kydd-Hannibal and his assertion that the lawsuit is motivated by political gain. The utility notes the only written retainer agreement was issued directly to Scotland, with no separate agreement for Kydd-Hannibal, and says its legal action is rooted in the written contract and Scotland’s own acknowledged role in the litigation.

    The full scope of the procedural failure only came to light for T&TEC in 2026, by which point the limitation period for bringing a new debt recovery claim had long expired. T&TEC argues that if it had been informed of the failures earlier, it could have hired new counsel and taken immediate steps to preserve its claim. The utility is now seeking damages equal to the full $2.39 million value of the lost debt claim, plus $300,000 plus value-added tax to cover investigative and remedial legal costs, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages. It has asked the High Court to grant full relief for breach of contract, negligence, or alternative claims of deceit and misrepresentation, plus accrued interest and legal costs.

  • TSTT shelves $49m call centre deal

    TSTT shelves $49m call centre deal

    A planned $49 million three-year digital call centre contract at state-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has been suddenly suspended, triggering an internal review and sparking questions about the departure of the firm’s former acting chief executive. The deal, which had already been awarded to Diego Martin-based Humming Bird Holdings Ltd, was scrapped after concerns emerged that the entire procurement and approval process was completed without any formal review or sign-off from TSTT’s board of directors, according to industry sources close to the ongoing investigation.

    The abrupt cancellation of the contract came shortly after TSTT’s board made the decision not to renew the acting appointment of former CEO Keino Cox, whose tenure ended two weeks prior. When asked whether the irregular call centre procurement played a role in the board’s decision not to retain Cox, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath confirmed that the contract issue was among the factors the board considered during its deliberations on Cox’s performance. Following Cox’s departure, the board appointed Reza Hosein to step into the role as acting CEO.

    Multiple attempts by the *Sunday Express* to secure a direct comment from Cox last week resulted in a delayed response. After initially noting he was traveling outside of the country, Cox directed all media queries to TSTT’s communications team lead Janelle David, who in turn referred questions to TSTT chairman Kern Dass. In an official statement responding to the *Sunday Express*’s questions, Dass confirmed that the proposed call centre agreement was never presented to the full board for review by the outgoing management team.

    Dass added that the board has launched an immediate full review into the procurement process and all surrounding circumstances of the award. “Once this review is concluded, TSTT will be positioned to share additional operational details,” he said, noting that the board intends to submit its finalized findings to the public utilities ministry and any other relevant regulatory authorities once the probe is complete.

    Senior TSTT insiders with direct knowledge of the procurement timeline shared that the process launched in November of last year as a selective tender, with four companies submitting formal proposals for the project: Amplia, Humming Bird Holdings Ltd, Concepts and Services, and Rayanna Boucher. Midway through the evaluation process, insiders said, the tender was unexpectedly converted to a single-source selection, with Humming Bird Holdings ultimately named the winning bidder following a final evaluation completed in April of this year. None of the other three bidders were selected for the contract: Boucher and Concepts and Services were eliminated during earlier stages of evaluation, while Amplia did not receive a favorable assessment from the management team leading the process.

    Documents reviewed by the *Sunday Express* confirm that a formal letter of offer for the three-year digital call centre contract was issued to Humming Bird Holdings, and the firm’s chief executive Nandani Varsha Bidaisee has already signed the document to accept the terms. Public corporate registry records show the company is registered to an apartment at Victoria Keys 8D Tower 3 in Diego Martin, with Merle Bidaisee listed as the second co-director. Until July last year, Rudra Bidaisee — a licensing officer at the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) who shares the same registered address — also served as a director of the firm, a role he held for 12 years before stepping down.

    Minister Padarath confirmed last week that he had requested full corporate details on Humming Bird Holdings from the national company register, and that the information was recently provided to his office. He also confirmed that official notification has been sent to Humming Bird Holdings advising that all proposed arrangements with TSTT have been suspended immediately, pending the outcome of the full investigation into the procurement process.

  • ‘Don’t try any madness’

    ‘Don’t try any madness’

    As Trinidad and Tobago prepares for a packed holiday weekend featuring 64th Independence Day celebrations and Caribbean Premier League cricket matches, top national security officials have issued a stark warning to any actors plotting violence or disruption: “Don’t you dare!”

    Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander delivered the forceful message Sunday in response to newly disclosed unconfirmed threats targeting diplomatic facilities, embassy locations and government properties across the country. The warning comes on the heels of a weeks-long wave of unsolved bomb threats that have forced widespread evacuations, disrupted public operations and kept the nation’s security apparatus on high alert.

    In blunt remarks to the *Sunday Express*, Alexander emphasized authorities are prepared to use any necessary measures to neutralize potential attacks, saying law enforcement would neutralize any attempted “madness” as quickly and smoothly as completing an everyday task like drinking water, then resume normal holiday activities without disruption.

    “Everything is being monitored; we have our friends on the other side who are lending assistance—and not just one; several of our allies are working with us,” Alexander added. “If persons try to come and disrupt or cause any type of panic, they will be treated with ‘diskind’ courtesy. All will be well and for those who think they can disrupt, they will be dealt with expeditiously.”

    Defence Minister Wayne Sturge echoed the government’s confidence in coordinated security efforts, telling reporters he has full trust in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and other national law enforcement agencies to protect the public. Sturge added he is fully satisfied with the strategic, tactical and logistical preparations put in place for the weekend’s large public gatherings.

    The TTPS first publicly confirmed the new unconfirmed threat Saturday, noting that Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin has already ordered divisional commanders to roll out targeted security measures. Law enforcement is working closely with national intelligence and security partners to evaluate whether the threat is credible, and the service has urged the public to avoid spreading unsubstantiated speculation, particularly unconfirmed claims about potential suspects or groups.

    “At this stage, the threat remains unverified,” the TTPS said in an official statement. “The TTPS cautions against speculation or the circulation of unconfirmed information, particularly claims concerning the identity, affiliation, or location of any person or group.”

    The disclosure of the new potential threat comes just one day after Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro told reporters following a threat assessment that the overall risk level for Independence Day events remains “very low,” a finding that gave authorities confidence to proceed with the planned public celebrations. This year’s festivities mark a sharp break from 2024, when the government canceled the traditional military parade, official functions and state-sponsored fireworks due to national security concerns during an ongoing state of emergency. Last year’s events were replaced by a national Day of Prayer and Reflection, with permits limited to small, private silent fireworks displays.

    For 2025, Guevarro confirmed that 222 officers have been assigned specifically to the Independence Day parade in Port of Spain, with more than 400 additional personnel allocated to contingency response and support roles. Officers will be deployed along the full ceremonial parade route and at the evening cultural celebration, with traffic and parking restrictions in place under two official legal notices covering both the Independence Day events and the CPL cricket matches. A full parking ban will be in effect at Queen’s Park Savannah from 6 a.m. Monday until 2 a.m. Tuesday, and Guevarro urged motorists to follow directions from on-site traffic officers and review location-specific restriction details ahead of time.

    To support holiday traffic management, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation also announced Sunday that light motor vehicles will be permitted to use both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Priority Bus Route between 8 p.m. and midnight on Independence Day, Monday August 31.

    The current heightened security environment stems from a series of bomb threats that began on August 19, when more than 11 locations across the country—including eight magistrate’s courts, multiple government office buildings, and a popular shopping plaza—received threats within a 40-minute window. The coordinated threats triggered mass evacuations and large-scale response operations from explosive disposal teams and local law enforcement, all of which ultimately found no dangerous devices after full searches.

    Three days later on August 22, two more locations—the Forestry Division headquarters on Long Circular Road and the Kapok Hotel in St Clair—received bomb threats that again required full searches by the Explosive Detection and Disposal Unit (EDDU), with no suspicious items found. The most recent incident before the latest unconfirmed threat came Thursday morning, when Scarborough Magistrates’ Court was evacuated after a threat was received; it was later confirmed to be false.

    Every threat must be treated as potentially credible until a full search is completed, placing significant extra strain on the nation’s security agencies, particularly the small EDDU team. Alexander has previously stated that arrests in the case were imminent as investigators work to identify the party responsible for the wave of threats, but no arrests have been announced to date. Despite ongoing security concerns, officials have repeatedly confirmed that the 2025 Independence Day celebrations will proceed as scheduled, and have urged the public to attend planned events without fear, avoiding panic and the spread of unconfirmed information on social media.

  • Flash Flood Watch in Effect Until Midday Sunday

    Flash Flood Watch in Effect Until Midday Sunday

    A regional flash flood watch is currently active across six Eastern Caribbean island nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, as post-tropical storm moisture brings the threat of dangerous flash flooding to vulnerable coastal and low-lying zones through midday Sunday.

    The official alert was issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services at 7:34 p.m. local time on Saturday, covering not just the twin-island nation but also neighboring Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla. The watch will remain in place until 12 p.m. August 30, with meteorologists continuing to track the weather system’s progression across the region.

    Forecasters confirm that the unsettled weather pattern driving this event is directly linked to the lingering remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly. The system is projected to push consistent heavy rainfall across the affected area through Sunday, with projected total accumulations ranging between 2 and 5 inches across most zones. In localized pockets, short intense downpours could push rainfall totals even higher, significantly amplifying the risk of sudden flash flooding.

    Meteorological officials have highlighted the specific risks facing communities in the warning zone. Low-lying neighborhoods that are already prone to routine flooding face the greatest threat of inundation, while key regional roadways may also become impassable. Additionally, heavy rain is expected to cut visibility for motorists, creating hazardous driving conditions across the watch area through Sunday morning.

    Local authorities have issued clear guidance for residents across all affected islands. The public is urged to stay updated on changing weather conditions, revisit and confirm their personal flash flood emergency response plans, and stand by to evacuate to higher ground immediately if flooding begins or a more urgent flash flood warning is issued. The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services has committed to ongoing monitoring of the system, with regular updates to be released to the public as new weather data becomes available.

  • Up to 200 Solar Panels Available for Distribution, Browne Says

    Up to 200 Solar Panels Available for Distribution, Browne Says

    Amid growing public pressure over skyrocketing household electricity bills, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed that the country’s Department of Environment holds a small stock of roughly 150 to 200 solar panels earmarked for public distribution. Browne made the announcement during an appearance on the popular Browne and Browne Show, broadcast on local radio outlet Pointe FM this past Saturday, while fielding questions from listeners about government support for families struggling to pay rising energy costs.

    In his comments, Browne acknowledged that the available stock of panels is far from sufficient to meet widespread demand. He initially put the total number of available units at approximately 150, noting that his own constituency had received an allocation of just nine to 10 panels for distribution to local residents. Based on the small allocations each parliamentary constituency has received, Browne revised his estimate, saying the total national stock is likely closer to 200 panels.

    The prime minister was frank about the limitations of the current program, confirming that the quantity of panels available remains extremely limited. At this stage, he declined to share key details about the initiative, including eligibility criteria for households hoping to receive a panel, the formal application process, or an official timeline for when distribution will officially launch.

    Browne also addressed questions about a separate, previously announced government program to distribute energy-efficient air conditioning units to residents, a policy designed to cut household energy consumption and lower long-term utility costs. He confirmed that a new director has recently taken leadership of the Department of Environment, which oversees both programs, but admitted he has no updated information on the status of the original air conditioning initiative.

    Browne told listeners he suspects the program has encountered unforeseen implementation challenges, but emphasized that he cannot confirm these suspicions without gathering more detailed information. He pledged to launch a full review of the stalled initiative and committed to sharing a formal public update once the review is completed.

  • Cooking Gas Prices to Remain Controlled Despite Pressure for Increase

    Cooking Gas Prices to Remain Controlled Despite Pressure for Increase

    The government of Antigua and Barbuda has made a firm commitment to retain price controls on cooking gas, turning down long-standing demands for a price increase from the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC), Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed over the weekend.

    Speaking during a Saturday appearance on the popular Browne and Browne Show, broadcast via local station Pointe FM, Browne addressed growing public anxiety that upcoming adjustments to motor fuel prices would extend to liquefied petroleum gas, the household staple widely known as cooking gas. He clarified that the government’s planned price revisions will exclusively impact gasoline and diesel, with cooking gas remaining under strict regulatory oversight to keep costs low for residents.

    “We continue to keep propane gas under price control and to deliberately keep the prices down,” Browne told listeners. He acknowledged that WIOC has lobbied for a cooking gas price hike for multiple years, and the administration recognizes that the regulated retail price of the product currently sits below its actual production and distribution cost, meaning the company is likely operating at a loss on cooking gas sales.

    Even amid this recognition of industry financial strain, the prime minister stressed that protecting household budgets remains a top policy priority for his administration. The government will continue to absorb the economic impact of price controls to shield ordinary families from rising energy costs, he confirmed.

    Browne’s announcement came ahead of the government’s planned rollout of an approximate 2 Eastern Caribbean dollar per gallon increase for both gasoline and diesel. The prime minister explained that the motor fuel price adjustment has become unavoidable, as the government can no longer sustain the large public subsidies that have kept gasoline and diesel prices artificially lower in recent months. What is clear, however, is that household cooking fuel will be spared from this round of price increases.

  • Government Considers Purpose-Built Home for Second Chance Programme

    Government Considers Purpose-Built Home for Second Chance Programme

    In a public discussion aired Saturday on Pointe FM’s popular Browne and Browne Show, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has reignited plans to secure a permanent, custom-built headquarters for Antigua and Barbuda’s transformative Second Chance Programme, floating the disused Ottos School property as the leading candidate for the redevelopment project.

    Speaking directly to a senior administrator of the education-focused initiative during the broadcast, Browne revisited a previously floated proposal to convert the abandoned school grounds into a dedicated base for the programme, outlining a bold vision to raze the site’s aging, outdated existing structures and construct a modern facility purpose-built to meet the programme’s growing student and operational needs.

    “What we are considering is rebuilding the entire site into a facility that is purpose-built specifically for the needs of the Second Chance Programme,” Browne clarified during the on-air conversation, adding that no final decision on the location has been reached, and additional stakeholder discussions will be needed to solidify plans moving forward. “We need to sit down and work through all of the details, but it is clear that this important programme deserves a proper, permanent home,” he noted.

    The Prime Minister emphasized that the Second Chance Programme fills a critical gap in Antigua and Barbuda’s education ecosystem, designed specifically to support adult learners and individuals who were unable to complete their secondary education or earn recognized academic credentials during their initial school years. The programme gives these learners a second opportunity to gain qualifications and pursue advanced academic and professional pathways.

    Browne highlighted the programme’s proven track record of success, noting that dozens of its graduates have gone on to enroll in and complete full undergraduate degrees at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. He called the initiative an invaluable feeder pipeline that has steadily expanded access to higher education for marginalized learners across the country.

    During the broadcast conversation, programme leadership disclosed that the initiative currently serves more than 300 mathematics students alone, and that enrollment for the upcoming term will remain open through the end of September. As of the discussion, no details have been released regarding projected construction costs, facility design blueprints, or a potential timeline for breaking ground on the project. Government officials also confirmed that no final binding decision has been made to select the former Ottos School site, with all options remaining on the table as planning moves forward.

  • PM Browne Says Public Must Be Consulted Before Antigua and Barbuda Becomes a Republic

    PM Browne Says Public Must Be Consulted Before Antigua and Barbuda Becomes a Republic

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has made clear that any plan to transition the Caribbean nation from a constitutional monarchy to a republic will only move forward after extensive input from the general public. The country’s leader, who has repeatedly confirmed his personal support for removing the British monarch as head of state, laid out a deliberate, people-first roadmap for the potential constitutional shift during a recent appearance on the *Browne and Browne Show* broadcast on Pointe FM.

    “I’m still very much a republican in my own thinking,” Browne told listeners during the Saturday interview. “But at the end of the day, this is a decision that has to be made by the entire Antigua and Barbuda people, not just the government.”

    The conversation about republican status came as Browne revealed he has received a formal invitation to meet with King Charles III in the coming weeks. The upcoming audience prompted questions about a past comment from Browne, who previously suggested the country could complete its transition to a republic within a three-year timeline.

    Browne emphasized that the government will not rush the process or push constitutional reform ahead of public opinion. Instead, he outlined a multi-stage approach: first open national discussions and broad consultations with communities across Antigua and Barbuda, then conduct independent public opinion polling to gauge widespread sentiment on the change. Only after those steps would a binding referendum be held, the required final step to approve any amendment to the nation’s constitution.

    “Before you get to a referendum, you want to at least have discussions about it. Do some polling and see how the people think about it,” Browne explained. “If it is that the people are against it, why push it? I mean, it’s for the people to determine. If the majority does not back the change, the government will not force the issue onto the population.”

    Browne drew a parallel between the republican transition debate and another long-proposed constitutional change: moving the Caribbean nation’s final court of appeal from the UK-based Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Browne confirmed he personally supports accession to the CCJ, but acknowledged that current public sentiment does not yet support the shift.

    Neither the republican transition nor the move to the CCJ has been taken off the policy table, Browne clarified. Both initiatives remain on the government’s long-term agenda, but progress will only align with the will of the Antigua and Barbuda people. “We will proceed in step with the wishes of the population,” he said.