Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister Kiz Johnson has called for greater regional cooperation to advance women’s economic empowerment, telling Caribbean leaders that financial inclusion is essential to the region’s sustainable development.

Speaking during a ministerial dialogue, Johnson said the issue should be treated as a shared responsibility among all Caribbean nations.

“Antigua and Barbuda believes that one of the key essentials to the sustainable development of the Caribbean is financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women,” Johnson said. “We also hold the view that it is not the obligation of one state or a group of states, but it’s our collective responsibility of all the states.”

She urged the Inter-American Commission on Women to continue supporting member states in addressing obstacles that limit opportunities for women.

“Encouraging the Inter-American Commission on Women to continue to assist the member states in eliminating barriers to entrepreneurship, land ownership, higher education, and job opportunities at all ranks,” Johnson said.

Johnson noted that tourism remains a major economic driver across the Caribbean but said women are still disproportionately represented in lower-paying positions within the sector.

“In Antigua and Barbuda, as for many of our states, tourism remains the drive of our economy. But while we boast of having little to no barriers to women’s participation in the economy, we have noticed an over-representation of women in lower paid and lower ranking roles in that same industry,” she said.

She said the government has made women’s economic advancement a priority, focusing on entrepreneurship and access to financing.

“Our government, we’ve taken it very seriously and so we’ve made it our priority to focus on economic advancement, entrepreneurship, and access to financing, that is key,” Johnson said.