Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne welcomed Dr. Julius Garvey, renowned vascular surgeon and son of Pan-African trailblazer Marcus Mosiah Garvey, to a historic courtesy visit that celebrated black empowerment, shared Caribbean-African heritage, and future collaboration to strengthen connectivity across the African diaspora.
The meeting, held at the Office of the Prime Minister, served as both a personal and symbolic moment—highlighting Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to honoring the legacy of one of history’s greatest Black leaders, while advancing bold, modern initiatives to deepen ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Browne expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Garvey for continuing the work of his father, noting that Marcus Garvey’s influence was instrumental in shaping the consciousness and political activism that led to the decolonization of the Caribbean and the birth of independent nations like Antigua and Barbuda.
“Your father helped to awaken our sense of pride and identity,” said Prime Minister Browne. “He taught us that we were kings and queens long before slavery and colonialism stripped us of that knowledge.”
PM Browne reflected on Garvey’s influence on the trade union movement, the struggle for independence, and the Rastafari faith, describing Garvey as a global visionary whose ideas remain urgent and transformative.
Prime Minister Browne revealed that the Cabinet is actively considering the renaming of a major street in the capital to Marcus Garvey Drive, commemorating Garvey’s historic address to Antiguans in 1937. He further shared the government’s plans to recognize local figures—George Alexander McGuire and George Weston—who were instrumental in Garvey’s movement and served alongside him in the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the African Orthodox Church.
“We must honor not only Marcus Garvey,” the Prime Minister stated, “but also those Antiguans who stood with him in the global fight for Black dignity, self-reliance, and liberation.”
The Prime Minister recounted the bold initiative taken by his administration to establish direct air travel between Nigeria and Antigua and Barbuda—a project he described as being inspired by Garvey’s Black Star Line. In 2022, Antigua launched a charter flight from Lagos to St. John’s with high expectations. However, the initiative encountered setbacks when more than 600 conflict migrants from Cameroon arrived, prompting security concerns and public misunderstanding.
Despite facing political backlash, Browne remained resolute:
“We did the right thing. We tried to connect Africa and the Caribbean in a tangible way. Just like Marcus Garvey, we faced sabotage—but we will not relent.”
He revealed that Antigua and Barbuda has since partnered with Air Peace, a leading Nigerian airline, which now holds majority shares in LIAT, the regional carrier. The government plans to launch scheduled flights by early next year, positioning Antigua as a hub for African-Caribbean people-to-people exchange, trade, and tourism.
Dr. Garvey, now 92 years old, praised Prime Minister Browne’s leadership and affirmed the importance of continuing his father’s legacy through bold and practical actions that uplift Black communities globally.
“Your work mirrors the values my father held dear—Pan-African unity, entrepreneurship, and cultural pride,” said Dr. Garvey.
Dr. Garvey applauded these initiatives and underscored the broader importance of institutional linkages between the Caribbean and Africa.
“We need regular travel, trade, and cultural diplomacy between our people. Not once-a-decade conferences—but real, structured, ongoing engagement,” he said.
He encouraged leaders in CARICOM and the African Union to invest in connectivity and youth exchange, arguing that the next generation must inherit both the spirit and infrastructure of Pan-Africanism.
“The African diaspora is a sleeping giant. If we can awaken it with unity and purpose, we can change the world,” he added.
He also spoke candidly about his mission to keep his father’s legacy alive, not as history, but as a living framework for modern development and unity.
“We must never forget that we are African people, whether we live in Lagos, Kingston, or St. John’s,” Dr. Garvey said. “We are one people, with one destiny.”
He highlighted the need for increased education, diaspora connectivity, and economic cooperation, urging leaders across the Caribbean and Africa to adopt Garveyite principles of unity, sovereignty, and self-determination.
“My father taught us to look within for strength—not to others for charity. That message must guide how we build our economies, our communities, and our children’s future,” he added.
Prime Minister Browne reiterated that he remains committed to deepening ties between the Caribbean and Africa and called on CARICOM and African Union states to support direct air and sea links, even if temporary subsidies are required. He confirmed Antigua and Barbuda will advocate for this agenda at the upcoming ECO-PLEN meeting in September.
As the meeting concluded, the two men shared reflections on leadership, sacrifice, and resilience. Prime Minister Browne emphasized that history often judges great visionaries harshly in the moment but honors them with reverence in time. He described Marcus Garvey as “one of the greatest Black men to ever walk the face of the earth.”
“Dr. Garvey, your father paved the way. We stand on his shoulders. And in this moment, we recommit ourselves to fulfilling his dream—Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad.” (Ends)