On Father’s Day, members of multiple Masonic Lodges based at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre gathered alongside their immediate family members, extended relatives and friends to take part in a special celebratory worship service at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. This joint observance was far more than a simple commemorative gathering: it stood as a thoughtful, powerful reminder of the irreplaceable role that fathers and father figures hold within both family units and the broader community.
Throughout the specially organized service, speakers and faith leaders centered their messages on three core pillars: enduring family values, intentional spiritual guidance, and the far-reaching positive impact that fathers cultivate through consistent leadership, unconditional love, and steady support. For the Freemasons in attendance, representing a range of local Lodges, the opportunity to participate in this cross-community celebration came with a deep sense of pride. The event allowed them to publicly reaffirm their longstanding commitment to the fundamental guiding principles of their fraternity: faith, family prioritization, and selfless service to others.
A particularly striking element of the day was the presence of multiple generations of family members worshipping side by side. This intergenerational gathering underscored the event’s core message about the importance of nurturing resilient family bonds and cultivating a widespread culture of respect, personal responsibility, and compassionate care across the community. Attendees also reflected on the enduring role of the church as a foundational cornerstone of stable, connected family life. By creating intentional space for families to come together for shared worship and mutual connection, faith institutions like St. John’s Anglican Cathedral continue to strengthen local community fabric and embed values that build a more compassionate, cohesive society.
After the formal worship service concluded, attendees and their families moved to a space for casual fellowship, where they shared light refreshments and reflected on the meaning of the day. Many took the opportunity to express sincere gratitude for the fathers, grandfathers, community mentors, and other father figures who shape lives and leave lasting positive impressions on people across all age groups. In closing, the leadership and members of all Lodges meeting at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre extended warm, heartfelt Father’s Day greetings to every father across the region, offering wishes for continued joy, health, and blessing as they guide and nurture their families through every stage of life.
标签： Antigua and Barbuda
安提瓜和巴布达
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Masons Celebrate Father’s Day with Families at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral
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Antiguan-Born Pastor Questioned After 60 Pounds of Suspected Cannabis Seized at Airport
A major drug seizure at Antigua and Barbuda’s primary international gateway has led authorities to a 54-year-old US pastor with local roots, who is now cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation unfolds.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, June 13, when Dean Robert Gould landed at V.C. Bird International Airport aboard American Airlines flight AA2579. As Gould cleared airport processing, members of the Antigua and Barbuda Police Service’s canine narcotics unit flagged two unmarked duffel bags registered under Gould’s name for secondary screening. The K9 unit’s alert led officers to discover the suspected cannabis hidden within the luggage, which clocked in at a total weight of 59.5 pounds – just shy of the 60-pound mark.
Law enforcement officials have estimated the seized narcotics have a street value of 357,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars, a significant haul for local anti-drug operations. Gould, who was born in Antigua and Barbuda but holds United States citizenship, was immediately taken into police custody to undergo formal questioning. As of the latest update from authorities, the pastor is set to be formally arraigned on criminal charges on the following Monday, with law enforcement continuing to piece together details of the suspected smuggling operation.
Local police have not yet released additional information about whether the pastor was acting alone or as part of a larger drug trafficking network, confirming only that investigations are ongoing.
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LISTEN: PM Says DPP Should Explain Controversial Decisions to Avoid Claims of Political Influence
A public accountability debate has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda after Prime Minister Gaston Browne pushed back against recent comments from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Clement Joseph, who claimed he is under no constitutional obligation to explain his prosecutorial discretionary decisions to the general public. Speaking during his regular weekly radio address on Saturday, Browne acknowledged the constitutional independence granted to the DPP’s office, but argued that this autonomy does not equal a blanket exemption from public transparency, especially when high-stakes decisions spark widespread citizen concern.
Browne first opened the door to the possibility that Joseph’s remarks may have been misrepresented in media reporting, granting the DPP the benefit of the doubt. However, he made clear that if the comments were accurately captured, they signal a deeply concerning approach to governing that ignores the public’s right to information. “He’s right in terms of his independence. He’s right in terms of his constitutional authority,” Browne stated of Joseph’s position. “But when you have situations in which the public becomes concerned about certain decisions, he has an obligation to allay the fears and to provide, at least, a level of justification for his decisions, obviously without revealing confidential information.”
The prime minister stressed that no public official, regardless of the formal independence of their role, operates entirely beyond public accountability. The constitutional authority granted to the DPP is not absolute, he argued, noting that the position draws its power from public trust, not unaccountable autonomy. Drawing a contrast with his own leadership approach, Browne pointed to his weekly radio appearances as an example of his commitment to updating citizens and answering for his government’s work. “I come here on a Saturday not only to inform the public but also to give account of my stewardship,” he said. “I don’t see how DPP could take the position that he’s not accountable to the public.”
Browne’s criticism is directly tied to recent public uproar over two high-profile narcotics-related prosecutions that were abruptly discontinued by the DPP’s office. The core controversy, he emphasized, is not inherently the decisions to drop the cases themselves, but the complete lack of public explanation that has fueled widespread speculation about improper influence. Among the cases was one involving a seriously ill female prisoner, where Browne noted existing legal frameworks already offer a formal, transparent process for compassionate release or sentence commutation, requiring input from the prison superintendent, Attorney General, and ultimately the Governor General.
Using this case as an example, Browne explained that public transparency could have easily resolved public concerns without compromising confidentiality. When he received a medical recommendation for compassionate release from the prison superintendent, he noted, he would have acted on the advice and published the supporting explanation publicly. “There’s nothing untoward about that,” he said. “What is so confidential about that?” A second case involved a Jamaican national connected to narcotics trafficking charges whose prosecution was also dismissed, a decision Browne acknowledged could be rooted in legitimate legal reasoning—but still requires public explanation.
Browne repeatedly stressed that he is not making any allegation of misconduct against Joseph, whom he described as a leader of “impeccable integrity.” Even so, he warned that a refusal to explain controversial decisions creates fertile ground for harmful rumors that outside political or financial influence swayed the case outcomes. Beyond eroding domestic public trust in the DPP’s office, Browne added, unexplained decisions carry the risk of damaging Antigua and Barbuda’s international reputation, particularly among global partners focused on counter-narcotics cooperation.
With two narcotics defendants receiving prosecutorial reprieves within a two-week window, Browne noted that international observers in key capitals—including Washington D.C.—may draw unfair but damaging conclusions about the integrity of the country’s justice system. “Two sets of people involved in narco-trafficking got a reprieve within the space of a week or two,” he said. “What’s going on in Antigua?”
Transparency in these cases does not require the disclosure of sensitive confidential information, Browne clarified. It only requires enough public detail to confirm that decisions were made on legitimate legal grounds, rather than improper influence. He closed by pushing back firmly against the DPP’s claimed lack of accountability, warning that a dismissive approach risks permanent damage to public trust. “All I’m saying to the DPP is be sensitive to the fact that those kinds of decisions even go beyond you in terms of consequences,” Browne said. “You’re wrong, you’re dead wrong, to say that you’re not accountable to the public.”
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LISTEN: PM Browne Says 130 Applicants Have Signed Up for New UWI Law Programme
In a recent public address, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has confirmed that 130 prospective students have completed their registration for the newly launched Bachelor of Laws degree programme at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands campus. This initiative marks a major milestone in expanding access to legal education for local and regional students, eliminating the need for many to pursue costly legal studies abroad.
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PM Browne Proposes Expanding Windfall Tax to Help Fund Education
In a bold policy announcement aimed at addressing long-standing underfunding in the national education sector, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Gaston Browne has tabled a proposal to expand the country’s existing windfall tax regime to generate new revenue for educational institutions and programs.
The current windfall tax in the twin-island nation applies exclusively to unexpected excess profits earned by major international oil and gas companies operating within its territorial waters. Under Browne’s revised plan, the tax would be extended to cover additional industries that have recorded outsized, unanticipated gains in recent years, including offshore finance, tourism, and precious minerals extraction.
Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the new revenue generated from the expanded tax would be ring-fenced exclusively for education-related investments. The proposed allocations include upgrading aging school infrastructure across both islands, expanding access to free early childhood education, providing increased financial aid for post-secondary students attending domestic and international universities, and hiring hundreds of additional trained teachers to reduce overcrowding in classrooms.
“For too long, we have watched a small handful of corporations reap extraordinary profits from our nation’s natural resources and open business environment, while our young people struggle with outdated learning facilities and limited opportunities to advance their education,” Browne noted during a press briefing launching the proposal. “This is a matter of fairness: expanding the windfall tax allows us to redirect a small portion of those unexpected gains to invest in our most valuable resource – our people.”
The proposal has already sparked debate across the national political landscape. Supporters of the plan argue that it represents a progressive step toward reducing income inequality and investing in human capital, which will drive long-term economic growth for the country. Critics, however, including representatives of the affected industries and opposition lawmakers, warn that expanding the windfall tax could deter foreign direct investment, discourage business expansion, and ultimately lead to fewer job opportunities for local workers.
Browne has countered these concerns by noting that the tax will only apply to excess profits that exceed baseline thresholds, meaning small and medium-sized enterprises will not be impacted by the new policy. He also confirmed that the government will hold public consultations on the proposal in the coming months before bringing the final legislation to parliament for a vote, with a target implementation date of the start of the next fiscal year.
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PM Browne asks Sir David To Be New UWI FIC Chairman
The search for a new leader to helm the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Council has narrowed to two prominent candidates following the recent passing of founding chairman Sir Aziz Hadeed, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. Business magnate David Harrison has confirmed he will give serious thought to taking up the vacant chairman role, with former finance minister Dr. Errol Cort positioned as a backup candidate should Harrison decline the post.
Browne made the first public announcement of the announcement of the candidate search during his weekly radio broadcast on Saturday, noting that conversations with Harrison took place recently as government and university leadership work to fill the role left open by Hadeed’s death earlier this month. “In fact, he just said to me he will consider serving as our chairman of the UWI Five Islands,” Browne told listeners.
To date, no final appointment has been finalized, the prime minister clarified. If Harrison opts not to accept the position, Browne says he will reach out to Cort to gauge his interest in taking on the leadership role. “If he doesn’t take it, I’m likely to call upon Dr. Errol Cort, possibly to serve as the chairman. I don’t know if he’s available, but I’ll have to touch base with him,” Browne said, adding that Harrison has not yet formally committed, but has demonstrated open willingness to evaluate the opportunity.
These remarks mark the first public confirmation of potential candidates to succeed Hadeed, a respected community leader whose tenure as campus council chairman was widely lauded for steering the young institution through an era of unprecedented expansion. A well-known local businessman, philanthropist, and education advocate, Hadeed was tapped as the campus’s inaugural council chairman when the campus was established in 2019, and earned reappointment to the role earlier this year in 2024. Under his leadership, student enrollment surged, the campus expanded its range of academic programs, and secured critical funding for large-scale infrastructure upgrades.
Since opening its doors in 2019, the UWI Five Islands Campus has emerged as one of the Antiguan government’s signature education projects. Official government data shows enrollment has skyrocketed from fewer than 350 students in the campus’s early days to close to 2,000 enrolled students today.
Browne’s disclosure about the chairman search came alongside an update on a separate project: a new sports and recreational complex being developed near the Sir Novelle Richards Academy, a project that has received major financial backing from Harrison. Browne noted this would be the second large-scale community project Harrison has supported; the businessman previously contributed millions of dollars to develop the Harrison Centre, and has already donated funds toward this new athletic facility.
The prime minister publicly commended Harrison’s long-standing contributions to national development, and extended gratitude to Ambassador Karen-Mae Hill for fostering the partnership that made the new facility donation possible. “I want to thank Sir David. I also want to thank Karen-Mae Hill. She’s the one who has anchored that relationship and was instrumental in getting him to fund this facility,” Browne said.
As of now, no official timeline has been released for when the new chairman will be appointed. Whoever is selected will take charge of guiding the campus through its next phase of strategic growth, which government officials say will include a major development initiative backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in new planned investment.
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LISTEN: PM Browne Questions ABST Structure, Calls for Review of The System
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly questioned the fairness and effectiveness of the country’s existing Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) framework, flagging evidence that the current input-output tax mechanism allows large tourism businesses to recoup millions in public revenue at the state’s expense. During his weekly public radio address Saturday, Browne said he had directed senior finance ministry officials to launch an accelerated review of whether the ABST system aligns with the small island nation’s unique economic profile, and to explore potential alternative tax models that could shore up declining government revenues.
Browne’s criticism of the tax structure emerged during a wide-ranging discussion of the country’s key tourism sector, which forms the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy. Under the current ABST rules, operating businesses can claim full tax credits for ABST paid on inputs including imported goods, operational supplies, and large capital investments, which they then use to offset the sales tax they collect directly from end consumers. Using hotels and resorts as a case in point, Browne explained that many large properties collect a 15% ABST from overnight guests, but amass such significant input tax credits through imported food, beverages, construction materials and other capital purchases that the government often ends up owing the businesses money instead of collecting revenue. He cited one example where a resort paid $20 million in ABST on imported goods, a sum that is fully offset against the tax the resort collected from guests — leaving the government with no net revenue from that portion of economic activity.
The prime minister argued that the current ABST framework, which was designed to work for economies with large domestic manufacturing sectors by incentivizing local input purchases, is fundamentally ill-suited to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, which relies heavily on imported goods for its tourism sector. Worse, Browne noted, the current structure creates an unintended and harmful economic distortion: it actively discourages hotels and other businesses from purchasing locally produced goods, because importing supplies effectively allows them to bring those products into the country free of all taxes and duties, while domestic purchases would not deliver the same level of tax offsets.
To address these flaws, Browne has instructed finance officials to prioritize exploration of a shift to a simple flat sales tax, which would eliminate the expansive input tax credit system that allows large businesses to reclaim most or all of their collected tax. Under the proposed model, businesses would pay a single flat tax at one point in the supply chain, removing the current scope for large-scale tax offsets that erode public revenue. Browne stressed that any reform would need to be carefully designed to avoid the risk of double taxation, a key pitfall that policymakers must guard against to prevent unfair tax burdens on businesses and consumers along the supply chain. He clarified that no final policy decision has been made, and the current review remains in the exploratory phase.
During the radio address, Browne also suggested that policymakers may need to consider a sector-specific approach to taxation, arguing that international-facing hotels operate with a very different business model than domestic wholesalers and retailers, and the current one-size-fits-all structure fails to account for these structural differences. As a major source of public revenue for Antigua and Barbuda, any substantive change to the ABST system will require extensive consultation with private sector stakeholders and will almost certainly require legislative approval before any new framework can be implemented. Finance officials are expected to complete their review and submit policy recommendations that balance the government’s goal of boosting revenue with the need to maintain a fair and predictable tax environment for local businesses.
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LISTEN: PM Browne Defends Sandals Overwater Bungalows, Says Antigua Must Expand Luxury Tourism Offerings
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stepped forward to defend a major planned luxury tourism development at Sandals Grande Antigua, framing the project as a critical investment to keep the island nation competitive in the fast-growing global high-end travel market. During his weekly public radio address Saturday, Browne pushed back against widespread criticism of the proposed overwater bungalows, laying out his case that the expansion will boost national tourism revenue while safeguarding public access to one of the country’s most popular coastal destinations, Dickenson Bay.
Sandals Resorts international has already announced plans to inject more than $100 million into the expansion project, which will add more than 100 new guest rooms to the Sandals Grande Antigua property. The centerpiece of the upgrade is the addition of approximately 16 exclusive overwater bungalows, a luxury accommodation option that has become a major draw for high-spending travelers worldwide.
To address widespread public concern over restricted beach access, Browne confirmed the government has placed clear geographic restrictions on where the structures can be constructed. The bungalows will not be sited along the central stretch of Dickenson Bay’s beach, he explained. Instead, development will be shifted south toward the existing groyne, a positioning that ensures the structures will not block public use of the main beach area. Browne emphasized that the bungalows are built over open water, not on the beach itself, so fears of restricted access to Dickenson Bay are unfounded. “These are not going to take up beach,” he said. “Dickenson Bay will still be accessible to all stakeholders.”
The prime minister pushed back against narrative that the country already has an oversupply of hotel rooms, arguing that turning away high-value investment would be economic folly. He pointed to top global luxury destinations including the Maldives, Bora Bora, and the Seychelles, which have built entire world-renowned tourism economies around premium offerings like overwater villas and bungalows. Currently, Antigua and Barbuda generates roughly $2 billion in annual tourism revenue, a figure Browne said the country can and must grow to strengthen its economy.
Luxury overwater accommodations command premium nightly rates that far outpace standard hotel rooms, Browne noted. He cited existing overwater units at Antigua’s Royalton resort, which already regularly bring in roughly $3,000 per night and remain consistently popular with travelers seeking ultra-luxury experiences. “These units provide a high yield,” Browne said. “They’re far more exciting. It enhances the product and places us in a more competitive space compared to other regional countries involved in tourism.”
Browne also addressed two other common points of criticism: environmental risk and structural vulnerability to hurricanes, a persistent threat for Caribbean island nations. He said the project will implement science-backed mitigation measures to limit any negative ecological impacts, and noted that overwater structures have a proven track record of withstanding major storms in hurricane-prone regions across the region. Even in the worst-case scenario that a storm damages the structures, Browne added, the development is fully insured, allowing for full reconstruction after extreme weather events. Existing overwater developments across Antigua have already weathered major hurricanes without catastrophic failure, he said, proving that the bungalows can be built safely and sustainably.
Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart has told the prime minister the proposed Antigua overwater bungalows could become one of the most attractive luxury offerings in the entire Caribbean, Browne revealed, adding that the new units will feature a unique design that sets them apart from existing overwater accommodations already operating on the island.
The expansion is part of a broader national strategy by the Antigua and Barbuda government to grow the country’s total room stock and solidify its position as a top-tier global tourism destination. Browne reiterated that attracting high-spending luxury travelers remains one of the most critical priorities for growing the country’s overall economy and expanding revenue from the tourism sector, which is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy.
“As far as we can build out more of those overwater bungalows and they do not impact other users and stakeholders, I think we should encourage them,” he said. “Because it will help to uplift our product.”
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Construction Underway on New Residential Development at Willoughby Bay, PM Says
Work is now underway on a high-profile luxury residential-tourism development at Willoughby Bay on the southeast coast of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed, calling the project a key example of the nation’s strategy to drive foreign investment and grow its tourism sector.
Browne shared the update during his weekly public radio broadcast Saturday, outlining that the scheme is being developed by an investor who participates in the country’s popular Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). The international investor was first connected to the Willoughby Bay site years ago, and has since moved through all planning phases to launch active construction, the prime minister explained.
The Willoughby Bay build forms part of a wave of high-end residential and tourism developments unfolding across Antigua and Barbuda, as national leaders work to diversify the country’s tourism product and draw increasing volumes of foreign direct investment. Browne emphasized that global demand for luxury tourism experiences continues to climb, and projects like this one are critical to broadening the nation’s economic foundation beyond traditional tourism offerings.
Alongside confirming active construction, Browne used the update to reaffirm the government’s commitment to balancing ambitious economic growth targets with rigorous environmental protection and maintained public access to the country’s treasured coastal landscapes. Environmental impact assessments and sustainable planning remain non-negotiable components of the approval process for all large-scale developments, he stressed.
The Willoughby Bay announcement came during a broader conversation about the country’s growing pipeline of tourism investment, including the planned expansion of Sandals resort properties and the addition of new overwater bungalows at Dickenson Bay. While Browne did not share full detailed blueprints for the final Willoughby Bay development during the broadcast, he confirmed that construction is moving forward steadily as one of a slate of major projects designed to strengthen both Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism and real estate sectors.
Situated in one of the island nation’s most picturesque coastal regions, the completed development is projected to deliver widespread economic benefits: it has already created construction jobs, and will support ongoing employment and generate increased visitor spending once it opens to residents and guests. For years, Antigua and Barbuda’s government has identified tourism-linked infrastructure and development as a core engine of national economic activity and a central pillar of its long-term growth strategy.
Browne noted that the country will continue prioritizing strategic positioning to attract global investors, while expanding the range of accommodation and residential property options available to international visitors and second-home owners. Additional details on the full scope and construction timeline for the Willoughby Bay development are expected to be released as work progresses in the coming months.
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Sandals to Pay Antigua and Barbuda Government $6.5 Million In Tax Settlement
One of the Caribbean’s most prominent resort operators, Sandals Resorts International, has reached a binding agreement to pay the Antiguan government $6.5 million to resolve lingering tax disputes, clearing the path for a $100 million expansion of its flagship Sandals Grande Antigua property. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed the settlement during his weekly public radio address Saturday, noting that recent talks with the resort’s top leadership were collaborative and productive across a wide range of operational and strategic issues.
“We had some outstanding issues with taxes and we’ve settled for $6.5 million, so they’ll be paying the government $6.5 million shortly,” Browne told listeners. “From what I understand, the funds have already been placed in an escrow account to finalize the process.”
The negotiations covered more than just outstanding tax obligations, with discussions spanning resort operations, new capital investment, and worker welfare, according to the prime minister. The centerpiece of the planned growth is a large-scale expansion that will add more than 100 new guest rooms to the existing property, including 16 luxury overwater bungalows targeted at high-net-worth international travelers.
Antiguan officials have already given the project formal approval, but imposed a key zoning requirement to preserve public access to the island’s popular beaches. Instead of siting the overwater accommodations in the central stretch of the resort’s beachfront, the bungalows will be located at the southern end of the property near an existing groyne, a structural barrier designed to reduce coastal erosion. This zoning adjustment ensures the main beach remains open and accessible to other visitors and local users, Browne explained.
“What we’ve said to them is that they cannot build those overwater bungalows in the middle of the beach,” the prime minister said. “They’ll be going southwards towards the groyne so that they do not impede the use of the beach by other users.”
Browne emphasized that the expansion aligns with the government’s broader tourism strategy, which prioritizes growing overall accommodation capacity while upgrading the country’s product offerings to attract higher-spending tourists. He pointed to the proven popularity and profitability of overwater bungalows in iconic luxury destinations such as the Maldives and Bora Bora, where these exclusive accommodations can command nightly rates in the thousands of dollars.
“These units provide a very high yield,” Browne noted. “They help to enhance the tourism product and place us in a more competitive position in the global luxury travel market.”
Beyond infrastructure and expansion, talks also centered heavily on improving employee support at the resort. Browne said he raised the issue of working parents with young children, who often face barriers to employment when they lack access to affordable childcare. He proposed that Sandals establish an on-site crèche (daycare facility) to support local and regional staff members, eliminating a major obstacle to consistent work participation.
To the prime minister’s satisfaction, resort executives responded positively to the proposal. “They have agreed, actually. They see it as a good idea and they say they’ll definitely look into it and see how they can put that in place as part of the infrastructure to facilitate the staff,” Browne reported. He added that the on-site childcare facility would boost local workforce participation and help employees better balance their professional and family responsibilities.
During the discussions, Sandals leadership also shared details about its current compensation practices for local workers. According to data provided by the company, entry-level employees earn more than $4,000 per month when including gratuities and additional earnings beyond base wages. Browne acknowledged that this figure came directly from the resort, but called the reported pay level “decent” for Antiguan workers.
Sandals also reported that it contributes more than $50 million annually to Antigua and Barbuda’s local economy through employee wages, local procurement of goods and services, and regular taxes and government fees. As the country continues to see steady growth in international visitor arrivals, the expansion will increase the resort’s contribution to the national tourism sector, which is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, and grow the country’s overall available room stock.
The project will now move forward with detailed planning and mandatory environmental assessments before construction begins. Browne reiterated that the government is committed to fostering responsible private tourism investment that balances economic growth with two core priorities: protecting public access to the country’s valuable coastal assets and safeguarding the rights and interests of local workers.