Newly appointed Senator Kiz Johnson has backed the 2026 Budget, saying it prioritises people by investing heavily in education and entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the Appropriation Bill 2025 debate in the Senate, Johnson cited the $220.1m allocation for education as evidence of the government’s focus on human capital and long-term development.

She highlighted measures she described as historic, including the payment of CXC examination fees for students in public and private schools, tuition-free studies at the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies from 2026, and planned tuition-free programmes at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus for eligible nationals.

Johnson also welcomed the introduction of Bachelor of Laws degrees at UWI Five Islands from 2026, in partnership with the UWI Mona Faculty of Law, saying it would reduce costs for families while building national capacity.

Referring to the Youth Empowerment and Education Programme, she said more than 8,000 people have benefitted since 2016, with a 92% pass rate at CSEC and CAPE. She noted the programme’s support services, including childcare and counselling.

On entrepreneurship, Johnson said the Entrepreneur Development Programme recorded its strongest year, with $1.6m disbursed by October 2025, while the National Student Loan Fund issued up to $1.6m annually between 2022 and 2025, with strong female participation.

She also told senators her decision to move from independent advocacy into government followed a belief that greater impact required direct involvement.