One-Nation – A significant boost to the economy

The One-Nation concert held in January generated much benefits for the country
with many benefiting, including the government, vendors and the artists who
performed.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne calls the concert, held on January 13, a ‘resounding
success’ as it was not only a boost to the economy and it also provided to quality
entertainment to local patrons who turned out in large numbers to experience the
event.
“The turn-out was outstanding, and this shows that the One Nation concert is the
most significant event in the Calendar of Events in Antigua and Barbuda. My wish
is that the opposition would stop carping about the concert because it is significant
from the standpoint of the amount of trade and commerce that are generated from
the concert. It’s a good event for our vendors and artists, all of whom got paid
handsomely. It is also extremely good because of its entertainment value,” PM
Browne observed in his first public assessment of the concert.
He also noted that the One Nation concert provided an opportunity for all strata of
society to mix in an atmosphere of fun and merriment. “You have to understand
that recreation and entertainment are part of life so it was good in that aspect as
well,” he remarked.
Another benefit highlighted by the prime minister was the opportunity for cross-
fertilization of talent where local artists are able to perform on the same stage as
several international artists and are able to learn as well as hone their performing
skills.
From a financial point of view, the concert generated much more than was spent on
staging it.
“We spent approximately EC$450-thousand to put on the concert. However, the
value in term of the taxes from the spending, I’m absolutely sure, would have
exceeded the amount spent,” he revealed.
PM Browne now wants to extend an invitation to the leader of the opposition to
become a joint patron of the concert in its future iterations. He also believes that
the concert has the potential to be expanded into a Caribbean Music Festival to be
staged in St. John’s as Antigua and Barbuda’s population mix gives it credibility in
hosting such an event.