Prime Minister Gaston Browne is assuring the people of Antigua and Barbuda that ‘their administration’ is committed to advancing the economic and social well-being of the people of the nation.
The prime minister was speaking on Tuesday as he delivered the feature address at the wreath laying ceremony at the VC Bird Bust on Lower Market Street where government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, students and members of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party gathered to pay homage to VC Bird, the Father of the Nation.
“We will continue to make sure that we invest in every aspect of our nation’s development; to make sure that every sector is advanced for your benefit. So for example, in agriculture, we will make sure that we increase our investments in agriculture in order to ensure food security and food sovereignty. We will make sure that we continue to invest heavily in health care to provide you with the best quality health care. Also, to include a health insurance scheme, come next year,” PM Browne declared.
This, according to the prime minister, is to provide nationals with the best health care coverage possible.
The nation’s leader identified education as a major pillar for growth and development, noting that the government will continue to advance all aspects of the nation’s education. “From early childhood education to university and that is why commencing next year we will spend US$200 million to expand the University of the West Indies FIC. We want to make sure that we have a campus that will continue to provide opportunities for the advancement of our people. We want to make sure that our people can stand toe-to-toe, shoulder-to-should with anyone globally. We want to make sure that you can compete with the best in the world,” PM Browne emphasized.
He noted that in entrepreneurship, the government continues to provide funding under the Prime Minister’s Entrepreneurial Fund and that is why there is a commitment to have available funds to allow for exploration of opportunities that may present themselves.
According to the prime minister a total of $7 million have been loaned so far and this figure is likely to increase in the coming year.
