Prime Minister Gaston Browne wants the people of Antigua and Barbuda to
change their mindset on the issue of investing and wealth creation.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, PM Browne said he
wants to see ordinary Antigua and Barbudans invest in business as a way of
creating generational wealth.
To this end, the government is moving ahead with plans to develop the lands of
Pensioner’s Beach and to sub-divide the area into lots for sale for locals to invest in
short-term accommodations, generally referred to as AirBnB, or any of the other
business ventures that may be accommodated in the development.
The prime minister noted that for many years he has been promoting the idea of
wealth creation, which he noted, has unfortunately been weaponized by the
opposition to suggest that he was suggesting to ‘get rich at any cost’ or through
nefarious means.
Despite the misinformation campaign from the opposition, the prime minister said
he is happy to note that other Caribbean prime ministers are recognizing the value
of his suggestions and are now promoting the ideas among their citizenry.
Additionally, he observed that even in the United Kingdom where the Labour Party
just won a huge election victory, the new Prime Minister had made wealth creation
on of the platforms for his campaign.
The development at Pensioner’s Beach, he emphasized, is one such opportunity for
ordinary nationals to ‘get on board’ and to begin the process of creating the type of
wealth that will last for generations.
According to PM Browne, this issue is critical to a nation’s development. “I
believe that wealth creation is important; you cannot have a successful country
with all poor people. Certainly, if we become individually and collectively
wealthy, that’s how we lift the nation. We can do more for our family members
and we can lift them out of poverty,” he stated.
He added that investments are important as the benefits are multifaceted.
Investments do not just help the investor; they help those around him/her. The plan
at Pensioner’s Beach is to expand the ownership base as those who are allocated
lands will get title to those lots.
The development will involve a beach park, resuscitating the beach, various areas
earmarked for commercial developments such as a restaurant, a supermarket, a
laundry as well as various types of accommodation, from short-term to medium to
long-term.
