REAL TALK

NEWS POLITICS

Prime Minister Browne Unveils Ambitious 2024 Budget: Antigua and Barbuda Aims for Economic Soar

ByAlki David

Dec 20, 2023

In the radiant morning light, Prime Minister Gaston Browne steps into the House of Representatives, poised to unveil the much-anticipated 2024 Budget Statement for Antigua and Barbuda. This pivotal moment is set to be a celebration of the nation’s achievements and a roadmap for propelling economic growth and prosperity in the year ahead.

Browne, in his presentation, is expected to highlight the successes of his government in the past year and articulate their vision for 2024, emphasizing a steadfast commitment to placing the country on an upward trajectory of economic growth and stability.

In a departure from recent budget presentations, Browne announces a series of “small increases” in at least three taxes. However, far from being a cause for concern, the Prime Minister positions these adjustments as a strategic move towards fostering economic prosperity. Addressing the nation, he frames these measures not as a burden but as a collective investment in the nation’s future.

During the V.C. Bird Day celebrations, Browne reassures citizens, encouraging them to view these actions as a positive contribution to nation building. Importantly, he emphasizes that the basket of zero-rated items, a lifeline for many, will remain unaffected, safeguarding the essentials for the population.

In a thought-provoking Op-Ed earlier this week, Professor C. Justin Robinson, a respected figure in Corporate Finance at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, applauded the government’s ambitious stance. Robinson notes the delicate balancing act required to navigate the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic while fostering growth. The 2024 budget, he suggests, could be the catalyst for a new era of economic soar for Antigua and Barbuda.

As the nation awaits the details of the budget, there’s a palpable sense of optimism. Will these fiscal measures be the driving force for unprecedented economic growth and prosperity? The 2024 Budget Statement promises to chart a course for Antigua and Barbuda’s economic ascent in the coming year.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.