Prime Minister Gaston Browne has hailed the newly completed golf course at the Peace, Love and Happiness (PLH) development in Barbuda as one of the best in the Caribbean, describing it as a symbol of transformation and a key contributor to the island’s economic future.

Speaking on his Browne and Browne radio show over the weekend, the Prime Minister said all 18 holes of the international-standard course have now been constructed. While some irrigation and landscaping work is ongoing, he said the facility already rivals top regional courses and is likely to be surpassed only by one in the Dominican Republic.

“It’s actually a better course than practically all but maybe one or two in the region,” Browne said. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

He said visiting regional leaders were equally impressed when Barbuda recently hosted a Monetary Council meeting—the first time such a gathering has been held on the island.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the broader economic impact of the PLH project. According to Browne, PLH currently contributes over US$2 million annually to the Barbuda Council in ABSD (Administration of Barbuda Special Development) fees, a figure projected to rise to US$10 million within two years as development continues.

“They don’t want the project, but every year they go and collect the cheque,” Browne said of local critics. “They’ve never once given credit for that.”

The development, which will soon boast around 350 rooms including luxury villas, has also restored sections of the island’s coastline, Browne said. He credited the developers with rebuilding sand dunes up to 14 feet high using geomatting, helping to protect against storm surges and erosion.

“They’ve preserved native vegetation and improved the area’s resilience,” he added, describing the surroundings as a haven for birdlife and natural beauty.

Browne also addressed previous legal action taken against him and the project by environmental advocates and Barbudan residents. He said the government and PLH were wrongly accused of corruption and environmental destruction—claims that were dismissed in court.

“They lost the case,” he said. “PLH had to spend over a million dollars defending it.”

Vowing to push back against future attacks on his integrity, Browne said he is considering legal action of his own. “It’s not that I’m thin-skinned,” he said, “but these people are routinely trying to destroy my reputation. At some point, I have to go on the offensive.”