On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the election of the ABLP to government
My fellow citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda.
Today, as we reflect on the past decade, we celebrate a remarkable journey
together—one that began ten years ago when the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party
took the reigns of power during a period of unprecedented failures.
Let me remind you, for comparative purposes that during that lost decade under the
failed UPP administration, our nation faced severe economic problems.
Our people were impoverished; we endured high unemployment, significant business
closures, unsustainable national debt and rampant crime and violence, including rapes
and homicides.
The economy came to a screeching halt with government defaulting on its IMF loan and
it couldn’t even pay for basic services including fuel, electricity, and water; owing
suppliers of these devices over $200M without any formal credit terms.
Notorious projects, like the unfinished car park in St. John's, the Wadadli power plant,
the ill-fated Half Moon Bay acquisition, stand as stark reminders of those turbulent
times characterized by unbridled corruption and incompetence.
These missteps were compounded by over two billion dollars in borrowings and an
overwhelming reliance on the IMF, which further strained our public services and overall
economy.
However, ten years ago, you, the people of Antigua and Barbuda, chose a new
direction.
You placed your trust in the ABLP to rejuvenate and rebuild our nation.
Together, we have turned adversity into opportunity, transforming our economic
landscape; ensuring a future where prosperity is shared by all.
Under the ABLP's leadership, we have acquired ownership of critical assets like the
West Indies Oil Company and our water infrastructure, securing them for the public
good. We have also recovered 10 acres of beach property, valued at $27M, located at
Valley Church which was corruptly sold by the UPP administration to a foreign entity for
$1.00.
The UPP reportedly spent $1.4B on roads during their tenure, yet all of the roads were
in a poor state of repair when we assumed office in 2014.
Our administration has since repaired most of the main arteries and has now
accelerated the community road programme. In fact, my administration has recently
invested $21M in heavy equipment and machinery to equip the Public Works
Department to accelerate the community road maintenance and upgrade program.
During the last decade, we have made Investments in infrastructure—such as reverse
osmosis plants, modern port facilities, and expanded electricity services, which have not
only strengthened our capacity, but have also propelled our economic growth and
development.
We have reduced unemployment significantly, fostered a thriving tourism sector, and
enhanced our educational systems with the establishment of the fourth landed campus
of the University of the West Indies campus at Five Islands, to rapidly expand the
intellectual capital of our nation.
This journey of revival was made even more challenging by the global COVID-19
pandemic, yet through courageous leadership and prudent financial management, we
did not succumb to the crisis.
Unlike the failed UPP regime, we did not seek bailout funds from the IMF; the ABLP
administration managed to steer our nation through these perilous times, ensuring our
health and economic stability remained intact.
This resilience resulted in unprecedented post COVID growth of 7.5 percent per annum,
further cementing our path to economic development and social improvement.
Today, through the steadfast commitment of the ABLP, Antiguans and Barbudans earn
more per head of population than the majority of countries in the region, without paying
personal income tax. We enjoy a high level of development as evidenced by the UNDP
Development Index ranking.
Our people are working; our economy is growing at a rate second only to Guyana in this
hemisphere.
Investment is increasing; Antigua and Barbuda today, enjoys one of the highest levels
of foreign investments per capita in the Caribbean.
We turned despair into confidence, and the future looks brighter than it has ever been.
The next decade promises to be even more exciting with growing prospects for greater
economic growth and development.
Our young people have been imbued with a strong sense of their own capacity to grow
and develop.
They have been provided with modern technology, access to knowledge and
information, and markets for their creative talents, ensuring they are well-equipped to
contribute even more meaningful to our nation's future.
In ten years, we have advanced our country steadily and progressively for the benefit of
all Antiguans and Barbudans and all who dwell within our shores.
Our prospects are real; we shall seize the opportunities and soldier on confidently to
victory.
This decade has also been marked by our commitment to heal divisions and foster unity
across our twin-island state.
We have worked tirelessly amid constant protestations, to integrate Barbuda more fully
into our national life, rejecting the divisive politics of marginalization of the past.
Despite the strident efforts of the obstructionists, we shall not relent on the
advancement of Barbuda and our Barbudans brothers and sisters. We are determined
to unrelentingly transform Barbuda into a luxury and sustainable island designation, with
a well-developed property rights system.
Antigua and Barbuda shall continue into perpetuity as a successful unitary state, with
stakeholder ownership in land and other assets, both in Antigua and in Barbuda.
We are striving to create a cohesive society where every citizen, whether from Antigua
or Barbuda, feels valued, and where every community can thrive. No one will be left
behind under the leadership of my all-empowering administration.
Internationally, our nation has led critical dialogues and initiatives.
We have been at the forefront in the Organisation of American States and the UN
Alliance for Small Island States, advocating for issues critical to our survival and
prosperity.
Our efforts to establish a Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index are changing how the
world recognizes and supports small island states with concessional funding.
Additionally, we are using international law to seek justice for the damages our nation
suffers due to climate change, proving that even our small nation can stand mightily on
the global stage.
Our accomplishments over the past decade are not the triumphs of the ABLP alone;
they are also your achievements, the result of our collective efforts.
Businesses, workers, and every citizen have played a crucial part in our nation's
resurgence and bright prospects for the future.
Looking ahead, we should not become complacent; we should not gamble with the
governance of our country and its future. We must remain vigilant
The path forward is clear and filled with promise and opportunities for all.
We should exploit these opportunities in pursuit of progress, with unwavering courage
and conviction.
As we face the next decade, let us remain committed to the values of productivity,
cooperation, unity and perseverance that have brought us thus far.
Together, we will continue to build a nation that is safe, resilient, prosperous, and
inclusive; making Antigua and Barbuda a nation of progress, and a testament to the
power of collective determination.
Thank you for your contribution, your trust, your spirit, and your dedication to our nation.
Please be assured, that I will never betray your trust and that I shall continue to work
unrelentingly for your empowerment.
Let us forward together with unity of purpose; as one nation, one people with a common
destiny.
Much love & blessings.
