Prime Minister Gaston Browne reinforced his government’s commitment to caring for all Antiguans and Barbudans, especially the poor and vulnerable. He stressed that his administration will always “go the extra mile” to ensure citizens enjoy ‘living standards second to none’, even amid limited resources.
Speaking Saturday on the popular, Browne and Browne show, PM Browne gave the example of ‘at-risk youth’ engaged through the Department of the Environment, who are being trained in skills such as shutter installation and air conditioning. “Some of these young men, once associated with gangs, are now being integrated into society with new opportunities for growth,” the prime minister explained.
One parent, the Prime Minister recalled, personally visited him at Point FM to thank him for helping to “salvage” her only son, who is now thriving in school. For Browne, such stories affirm the importance of not “writing off” young people as hopeless or irredeemable.
“This idea of writing off people’s children as too rude or too bad is backward looking,” he stated firmly, underscoring his belief in second chances.
Family, Struggles, and the Power of Support
The discussion turned deeply personal, as Browne shared his own family’s struggles. His mother and her brother, though raised in a middle-class home and schooled in Trinidad, ‘fell through the cracks’ after losing their mother at a young age and lacking adequate paternal support. Instead of stepping in, their father distanced himself, worsening their difficulties.
From this experience, Browne drew a lasting lesson: ‘never turn your back on loved ones’, even when they falter. With proper psychological and emotional support, he believes many who stumble can recover and thrive.
The conversation broadened to highlight how ‘social stigma—particularly around teenage pregnancy—once worsened the struggles of young women. One personal anecdote recalled how a young mother, expelled from school instead of supported, was pressured to apologize for having a child out of wedlock. Her family urged abortion, but she resisted, supported instead by a father who showed her ‘unconditional love’.
The segment highlighted how ‘resilience, family support, and compassion’ can turn difficult beginnings into inspiring outcomes, even when communities and institutions fall short.
