Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the national economy has grown to approximately $6.3 billion, with several large-scale tourism investments on the horizon despite minor delays due to global geopolitical uncertainty.
Speaking during his regular appearance on Pointe FM, Browne described the current economic climate as “extremely hot,” citing historically high levels of investor confidence and job creation. “The prospects are great,” he said, pointing to a wave of upcoming projects that he expects to further expand the economy in the coming years.
Among the major developments, Browne highlighted an upgrade in plans for the Marriott project at Yepton’s Beach, which is being constructed near the Royal Antiguan site. The capital investment has now surpassed $70 million as developers shift to a higher-tier Marriott brand. While this adjustment has introduced a 60- to 90-day delay, the project is still expected to break ground before year’s end.
He also confirmed that the long-anticipated “One&Only” luxury resort at Half Moon Bay is now slated to begin construction later this year.
On Barbuda, however, plans for the Rosewood-branded hotel have encountered a setback. According to Browne, the delay stems from the brand’s concern about proximity to the River Dune development. “Rosewood insisted that they don’t want to build their brand so close to the River Dune port,” he explained, noting that government officials are actively working to resolve the issue. He revealed that the developers have already invested approximately $12 million in soft costs, underscoring their commitment to moving forward.
Browne further indicated that additional work is underway at the Calvin Ayre-owned Nikki Beach site, signaling broader investor momentum across the country.
“Billions of dollars in investments are in the pipeline,” Browne said, adding that his administration has successfully delivered on promises made in opposition to attract more foreign direct investment. “There’s no other administration in the history of this country that would have attracted more investments to Antigua and Barbuda than my administration.”
He concluded by noting that unemployment levels—once high in 2014—have dropped significantly as the economy continues to expand.
“These projects aren’t just concepts—they are funded, they’ve already spent significant sums, and they are moving forward,” Browne affirmed.