The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to invest EC$300 million into the continued expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus as part of what it describes as a national “renaissance” in education and human resource development.
The commitment was outlined Tuesday during the 2026 Throne Speech delivered by Sir Rodney Williams at the opening of Parliament.
According to the speech, the Five Islands campus has grown from fewer than 350 students at its inception to nearly 2,000 students within four years. The Government said the university has already begun offering master’s degree programmes and is expected to eventually provide doctoral-level studies.
The administration also reaffirmed its goal of making tertiary education tuition-free for citizens, positioning the university at the center of its long-term economic and social transformation agenda.
Officials said the expansion programme will also include the construction of new primary and secondary school facilities for the Five Islands community.
Education Minister Daryll Matthew was praised in the address for his role in advancing the education agenda, while recognition was also given to Sir David Harrison and the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education, now integrated into the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies.
The Government said technical and vocational training will continue to play a major role in preparing young people for higher-paying careers and strengthening the country’s workforce.
