ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, delivered the Throne Speech on Thursday, outlining the Government’s achievements over the past 25 years and setting new priorities for economic growth, healthcare, education, and infrastructure as the nation enters the second quarter of the 21st century.
The speech highlighted the country’s economic expansion since 2000, with GDP rising from US$802 million to more than US$2 billion in 2025, despite repeated climate shocks, the global financial crisis, and the pandemic.
Antigua and Barbuda now ranks 53rd on the UN Human Development Index, ahead of all other Caribbean nations, the Governor General said.
The Government credited foreign direct investment, expanded access to education, stable governance, and low crime rates for driving growth. It also said youth employment had improved due to a construction and hospitality boom, supported by the establishment of the UWI Five Islands Campus.
A significant portion of the speech focused on Barbuda’s transformation, citing new tourism projects, upgraded infrastructure, and the island’s move toward becoming a net contributor to the national economy. The Government defended its controversial land reform legislation, noting the apex court had affirmed Crown ownership of lands not privately held.
On water security, the Government said national desalinated water production has risen from 3.5 million gallons per day in 2014 to more than 11 million gallons today, with Cuban and Chinese assistance supporting storage and re-piping upgrades.
The Governor General touted “empowerment capitalism,” including citizen share-ownership in state-linked enterprises and the establishment of the National Asset Management Company to manage public investments.
He also outlined a sweeping set of education and infrastructure initiatives, announcing that the Government’s multiyear plan to expand the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has moved “from planning to execution.”
The Governor General said the campus transformation—funded in part by a US$80 million loan from the Saudi Development Fund—will include land acquisition, expanded classroom facilities, new dormitories, and upgraded surrounding infrastructure.
“When my Government decided to repurpose China’s gift of a school… the decision-makers knew that the campus would surely have to be enlarged,” the Governor General said, noting that the long-term vision is for Five Islands to grow into “like every college town, bigger and better.”
He added that construction has already started on a new primary school for the community, which is expected to be completed in about a year. “The build-out of the University campus will commence early next year, and the village of Five Islands is beginning its transformation,” he said, encouraging local investors to seize emerging opportunities.
The Governor General also announced that the Glanvilles School of Agriculture will open in January 2026, supporting the push toward food sovereignty. He thanked China for its “contribution to advancing agricultural output by the transfer of technology which it freely shares.”
Other significant projects highlighted include the Fine Arts Theater on High Street, upgrades at YASCO, and completion of the national Aquatic Center. These investments, he said, reflect his Government’s commitment to preparing youth “to demonstrate the excellence that our country’s forebears predicted would ensue with perseverance and good governance.”
In health, the Government announced plans to convert the Medical Benefits Scheme into a National Health Insurance plan in 2026, expand coverage for chronic illnesses, and strengthen mental health services with a new facility at Seaview Farm. A new dialysis center at the former Holberton site will serve more than 100 patients daily and support kidney transplants.
Antigua and Barbuda’s expanding diplomatic profile was also emphasized, including hosting major regional and international summits and advocating globally for climate justice, the loss and damage fund, and the “Zone of Peace” designation for the Caribbean.
Tourism officials expect a record 2025–26 season with 450,000 stayover visitors and nearly one million cruise passengers. New hotel projects on both islands, including Rosewood, Nobu, Nikki Beach, and Marriott-branded developments, were announced.
The Government outlined significant infrastructure investments, including a US$100 million road rehabilitation program, continued upgrades to the V.C. Bird International Airport runway, and the installation of an undersea cable to improve broadband costs and speeds.
On housing, more than 1,000 units have been built since 2014, with new condominium projects underway in Booby Alley, Bolans, and Barbuda. Social support programmes, including food vouchers, electricity subsidies for seniors, and expanded assistance for indigent households, will continue.
The Government also reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, noting its second-place CARICOM ranking in the 2025 World Justice Project report. It pledged additional legal drafting capacity, amendments to the Labour Code, and activation of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.
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