Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Corporate Governance and Public–Private Partnerships, the Honourable Gaston Browne, on Thursday presented the 2026 National Budget under the theme “People-Centred Growth and Development,” outlining a comprehensive plan to advance social resilience, expand the economy, and accelerate Antigua and Barbuda’s climate-smart transformation.
In his address to Parliament, the Prime Minister highlighted the country’s significant economic progress over the past decade, noting that Antigua and Barbuda is projected to record one of its strongest fiscal performances in history. For 2025, the Government anticipates a primary surplus of $254.9 million and an overall surplus of $116.3 million, while the national debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to fall to 61.4 percent—just shy of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s 60 percent benchmark. Real GDP growth for 2025 is estimated at 4.8 percent, buoyed by rising employment, expanding sectors, and increasing private investment. Employment levels reached an estimated 54,288 jobs, with total reported employee earnings surpassing $2 billion for the first time. Inflation has continued to ease, with the headline rate averaging 1.4 percent between January and August 2025, down sharply from the previous year.
Tourism continues to anchor economic activity, with total visitors in 2025 expected to reach 1.3 million. Antigua and Barbuda’s rising profile as a host destination for major international conferences and global negotiations has further strengthened performance in the sector. Growth in construction, driven by government infrastructure works and major private-sector developments, has also contributed significantly. Port activity rose by nine percent, helped by increased shipping volume and new transshipment routes.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister projected that the economy will grow by 5 percent in 2026. More than US$1.5 billion in active or planned investments—including the One & Only Half Moon Bay resort, Nikki Beach Residences, MurBee Resorts in Barbuda, expansion of the Barbuda Ocean Club, the rehabilitation of Jolly Beach, and airport and port upgrades—are expected to propel job creation and expand the country’s long-term revenue base.
A major portion of the Budget focuses on strengthening social resilience. The Prime Minister announced that 2026 will see major advancements in healthcare, including the opening of a new Renal Care Centre, the establishment of a Chest and Cardiac Centre in partnership with China, the reopening of the Cancer Centre, and the launch of National Health Insurance to replace the Medical Benefits Scheme. Mental health services will also be expanded, accompanied by planned upgrades to the Behavioural Health Institute.
In education, the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus will undergo more than $200 million in expansion works, adding new laboratories, academic facilities, student residences, sporting infrastructure, and upgraded digital systems. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to covering all CXC exam fees and announced that tuition at the Antigua and Barbuda College of Allied Studies will be free beginning in 2026. New academic programmes in agriculture, software engineering, and law will also be introduced.
Housing development remains a priority for the administration, with plans to deliver at least 270 homes in Antigua and 50 more in Barbuda during 2026. The Booby Alley redevelopment is scheduled for completion next year, and the Home Advancement Programme for the Indigent will be expanded. New land-access initiatives will help working families and young professionals secure homeownership opportunities.
The Prime Minister emphasized that cost-of-living relief measures will continue into 2026, including zero-rated ABST on essential foods, subsidies on fuel and LPG, electricity support, a suspension of the Common External Tariff on select items, and an ongoing food voucher programme. These interventions, he said, help safeguard the real incomes of households at a time when global pressures remain volatile.
Public safety will also receive increased attention. Funding is allocated to expand the police force, enhance specialized training, upgrade surveillance and communications technology, and bolster maritime security. The Government is also procuring new equipment and a patrol vessel to strengthen national defence and border management.
Infrastructure development will continue nationwide, including extensive road rehabilitation, water system upgrades, digital transformation efforts, and the expansion of electricity generation and transmission systems. Barbuda will undergo significant upgrades as well, with a $50 million road programme, development of a new cargo and tourism port, airport expansion, and the construction of a new primary school.
Prime Minister Browne also reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s global leadership on climate resilience, citing progress made under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and the country’s landmark victories at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The Government will continue to pursue new financing avenues through the Green Climate Fund, which has expanded access to up to US$50 million.
The 2026 estimates project recurrent revenue of $1.49 billion, recurrent expenditure of $1.21 billion, capital spending of $230.8 million, and an overall surplus of $69.5 million. Major revenue drivers include ABST, import duties, the Revenue Recovery Charge, corporation tax, and Citizenship by Investment receipts. The Ministries of Education, Finance, and Health received the largest allocations.
The Prime Minister used the Budget to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to workers and pensioners, noting that nearly $60 million in back pay has been cleared since 2022, with an additional tranche set to begin disbursement this month. A full public-sector reclassification will be completed by July 2026, and pensioners will receive another increase in July 2026. Recommendations for a minimum wage adjustment are expected early in the new year.
In closing, Prime Minister Browne described the Budget as a continuation of the nation’s long-term transformation. “This Budget charts the path forward,” he said. “Nation-building is not the work of a few—it is the responsibility of all. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Antigua and Barbuda.”
