Prime Minister Browne, who was first elected on March 9, 1999, representing the St. John’s City West Constituency, has been successful in five consecutive elections. He is also the only Prime Minister in the country’s history to have won three consecutive elections. Prime Minister Browne recently secured his third term in office on January 18 2023, during Antigua and Barbuda’s general election.

He is the leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), a position he has held since 2014. During his tenure, Prime Minister Browne has overseen significant developments and faced challenges, including the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, the establishment of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne was born in Potters on 9 February 1967 and was raised in the poverty-stricken communities of Point and Grays. After completing his secondary education, Browne left Antigua for the United Kingdom, where he completed degree programs in Banking and Finance. Before entering politics full-time, Browne worked in the banking sector for several years and rose to become a senior bank manager.

In the 1999 General Election, Browne entered the political arena and was elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of St John’s City West. Browne’s first ministerial appointment was as the Minister of Planning, Trade, Industry, Commerce, and Public Service Affairs in then Prime Minister Lester Bird’s cabinet. In April 2021, Browne added the profession of farmer to his long list of accolades when he started Farmer DG Browne Company Limited with his two adult sons. The farm produces livestock, fresh seasoning, ground provision, and coconuts.

His contributions have made a difference in the lives of many, and he continues to lead the country with vision and purpose.

Recent data released by the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association reveal a marginal increase in hotel occupancy rates for January 2024 compared to both 2023 and the benchmark year of 2019. January 2024 saw hotel occupancy reach 80.8%, a slight uptick from 79.8% in 2023 and 79.0% in 2019.

In terms of air arrivals, January 2024 also showed a modest increase over 2019 figures. The total number of arrivals by air in January stood at 30,690, compared to 30,243 in January 2019.

Notably, the United States remains a key driver of tourism growth, being the only source market to experience an increase in arrivals, contributing 45% of all visitors with 13,724 arrivals in January.

Conversely, the UK, the second-largest source market for Antigua and Barbuda tourism, witnessed a decline from 8,776 visitors in 2019 to 7,812 in 2024.

All other source markets experienced decreases in arrivals from 2019 to 2024.

One of the challenges facing the tourism industry in Antigua and Barbuda is the reduction in airlifts to the destination.

This reduction has been particularly impactful on arrivals from the UK, as both British Airways and Virgin have scaled back their flights to the region.

Charmaine Quinland-Donovan, the Chief Executive Officer of Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Unit, has reacted to the news that the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program has been ranked third on the Henley Global Citizenship Program Index.

Quinland-Donovan noted that the program received perfect scores in residence requirements and physical visit requirements, and passed in investment requirements, visa-free access, processing time, compliance, and transparency.

“Looking at the various categories being ranked, we see that the five programs in the Eastern Caribbean are similarly positioned. This means that the industry sees much homogeneity across these programs,” Quinland-Donovan stated.

“It, therefore, behooves us to ensure that we have shared values, shared red lines, and shared best practices and standards.”

The Henley Global Citizenship Program Index is a comprehensive ranking of the world’s most popular citizenship-by-investment programs, evaluating various criteria to assess their attractiveness and effectiveness.

In particular, he held meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, where they discussed significant areas of cooperation between their respective countries.

These talks took place following the first Saudi-Caricom Summit, which was held in Riyadh last year.

Additionally, Prime Minister Browne also met with Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. Notably, Botchwey is Ghana’s candidate for Commonwealth Secretary-General.

As he meets with his fellow Caricom heads for critical discussions, Prime Minister Browne is dedicated to advancing bilateral talks and promoting cooperation among nations.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program has secured a prestigious 3rd place in the Global Citizenship Program Index, according to the latest rankings from Henley & Partners.

Tying with Grenada and St. Lucia with a score of 70, Antigua and Barbuda’s program stands out as a highly competitive option for global investors seeking citizenship through investment.

Antigua and Barbuda’s program offers a range of attractive investment routes, including real estate-linked options and fund investments.

Additionally, investors have the option to make a non-refundable contribution to the University of the West Indies or explore alternative business investment opportunities. The Henley & Partners report highlights a growing trend in millionaire migration, with a record number of high-net-worth individuals projected to move to a new country in 2024.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program provides investors with the security and flexibility they need to navigate global uncertainties. Antigua and Barbuda’s strong performance in the Global Citizenship Program Index reaffirms its position as a leading destination for investors seeking citizenship through investment.

European residence and citizenship by investment programs continue to dominate the top spots of global wealth advisory firm Henley & Partners’ annual rankings of the most sought-after investment migration programs in the world. Malta holds onto 1(st) place in the 2024 Global Citizenship Program Index as it has done for nine consecutive years, while the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program retains top spot on the Global Residence Program Index.

The two indexes — featured in the 2024 edition of the Investment Migration Programs report, one of Henley & Partners’ annual flagship publications — offer a systematic analysis and comprehensive benchmarking of the world’s most attractive residence and citizenship by investment programs, providing the gold standard in the sector. This year’s edition includes a total of 39 programs, representing the most relevant of over 100 programs worldwide. These have been appraised by a panel of independent experts including leading academic researchers, country risk specialists, economists, independent expert immigration and citizenship lawyers, and other specialists, who consider a broad range of pertinent factors. Interactive digital comparisons of the programs are also available, enabling global investors and wealthy families to select what matters most to them when weighing up their options.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, international immigration and citizenship law expert and Chairman of Henley & Partners, says Investment Migration Programs 2024 is essential for all those interested in keeping up to date with developments in the investment migration sector or considering residence or citizenship by investment as options for unlocking global access and opportunity. “The publication is important not only for private clients and their advisors and other wealth management professionals, but equally for government policy makers looking to manage investment migration programs to achieve greater fiscal autonomy and economic growth. In this era of heightened global volatility, nation states are using residence and citizenship by investment programs as an innovative financing tool to fund national or regional social and infrastructure projects as well as development initiatives that mitigate sustainability risks, to the benefit of their citizens and residents.”

Citizenship programs: Malta reigns supreme

The Global Citizenship Program Index ranks 13 programs, with the strategically located European nation of Malta scoring 77 out of 100 and taking top honors once again. Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment Regulations allow for the granting of citizenship by a certificate of naturalization to foreign individuals and their families who contribute to the country’s economic development. This is possible following a 36-month residence period (or 12 months by exception). Malta’s original citizenship program was designed by Henley & Partners in 2013–2014 and went on to become one of the most successful such programs in the world. Retaining 2(nd) place with a score of 74 is Austria’s premium citizenship by investment offering, which requires applicants to make a substantial contribution to the Austrian economy. Three Caribbean island nations tie in 3(rd) position, each scoring 70: the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program, the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program, and the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program all offer attractive real estate-linked investment routes and fund options. Antigua also offers alternative business investment options or investors can make a non-refundable contribution to the University of the West Indies.

Another two Caribbean nations make it into the Top 5 — the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program in 4(th) place with a score of 68, followed closely by the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program, which scores 67 and shares 5(th) place with the increasingly popular Türkiye Citizenship by Investment Program. Türkiye has multiple routes to citizenship, including a real estate option, and as a major transcontinental country, provides investors with easy access to Asian, European, and Middle Eastern markets.

Sharing the 6(th) spot on the index are the Egypt Citizenship by Investment Program and the Jordan Citizenship by Investment Program, each scoring 65. The lower ranks are occupied by the North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment Program in 7(th) place, scoring 64, Vanuatu 8(th) with 62, and Cambodia in 9(th) place with a score of 53.

Residence programs: Portugal in prime position

Europe also prevails in the 2024 Global Residence Program Index, with programs on the continent occupying the Top 5 positions. The Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program ranks 1(st) overall out of 26 programs with a score of 75 out of 100. Each scoring 73, the Austria Private Residence Program shares 2(nd) place with the Mediterranean’s rising star — the Greece Golden Visa Program, followed closely by the Swiss Residence Program on 72 — an investment option developed by Henley & Partners, which combines private residence with the Swiss forfait tax provisions.

Italy’s Residence by Investment Program is joint 4(th) with the UK’s Innovator Founder Visa each scoring 71. The only Top 5 program not in Europe is the Canada Start-Up Visa Program, which scores 69 and shares the 5(th) spot with another European favorite that is attracting a great deal of attention, the Spain Residence by Investment Program.

Two prime wealth hubs are joint-6(th) with scores of 66 — the UAE and Luxembourg, with the Asian powerhouse Singapore in 7(th) place scoring 65. Next are Australia and Jersey, which share 8(th) position with scores of 64, and the Malta Permanent Residence Program and New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa score 62, as does Panama’s golden visa, placing the latter three countries in joint 9(th )place. The USA’s score of 61 sees it rounding off the Top 10 list in 2024.

Three diverse territories share the 11(th) spot this year: Hong Kong, Monaco, and South Korea, all with scores of 60, while the Cyprus Permanent Residence Program ranks 12(th) scoring 59. Latvia’s Residence by Investment Program shares 13(th) place with Thailand’s Privilege Residence Program, each scoring 58, and Thailand’s neighbor, Malaysia, ranks 14(th) with a score of 50. The 15(th) place is shared by Africa’s two residence options, the Mauritius Residence by Investment Program and Namibia Residence by Investment, which each score 49.

Domicile diversification a top priority

Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says robust comparative analyses and benchmarking tools such as the Global Residence Program Index and the Global Citizenship Program Index are essential for investors as well as governments navigating the current landscape. “Acquiring alternative residence and/or citizenship by participating in reputable investment migration programs enables greater flexibility and participation in the world’s leading economies, as well as optionality, which is now an indispensable part of any family’s insurance policy for the 21(st) century. The more jurisdictions a family can access, the more diversified its assets, the lower its exposure to country-specific, regional, and global volatility, and the more sustainable it will be over the long term.”

Last year, US-Americans were the top nationality applying for alternative residence and citizenship options through Henley & Partners, and this trend has continued into the first quarter of 2024. This year is also projected to be a record breaker in terms of millionaire migration according to the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, with 128,000 high-net-worth individuals forecast to move to a new country, compared to the 120,000 who did so last year, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 110,000.

“Along with our Henley Ultimate Portfolio tool, which allows individuals to build portfolios of complementary residences and citizenships to unlock global jurisdictional access and opportunity, the two digital indexes are indispensable resources that assist wealthy investors to support them with data-driven information to future-proof their wealth and legacy for generations to come,” concludes Dr. Steffen.

Prime Minister Browne will be accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Dr. Clarence Henry.

The Heads of Government will also discuss the Guyana-Venezuela border issue, as well as the Belize-Guatemala demarcation claim.

The meeting is being chaired by Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, who will deliver the feature address at the Opening Ceremony.

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and Roosevelt Skerrit, Outgoing Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Dominica, will also address the gathering.

The business sessions of the four-day meeting will be held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. During the meeting, the Heads of Government will hold discussions with the meeting’s special guest, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, as well as with other high-level guests.

Discussions will include the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and an update on the implementation of the free movement of all Community Nationals by March 31, 2024, as mandated at the 45th Regular Meeting in July last year.

The CARICOM Chairman, as lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, will update the meeting on the Community’s 25 by 2025 initiative to tackle the Region’s rising food import bill and improve intra-regional trade.

Moreover, the meeting will also discuss climate change and climate financing; regional security, including the situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues, including developments in the Middle East; Reparations; and the 2024 ICC Men’s T-20 Cricket World Cup. The CARICOM meeting will end with a media conference on February 28.

Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the CARICOM meeting also includes Foreign Service Officer Kurt Williams and Project Development Officer in the Office of the National Authorization Officer, Juray Roberts.

The ACP team is expecting to end the month by receiving 78 calls and having served 141,000 passengers.

This is a clear indication of the growing popularity of the destination and the demand for cruise vacations.

The ACP statement comes as it announced the inaugural visit last week of Carnival Venezia, which brought “Fun Italian Style” cruising into St. John’s for the first time.

Over four thousand passengers sailed into the port aboard the vessel along with 1,401 crew members. St. John’s is the first port of call on the current 12-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean itinerary for this ship.

The recently rebranded Vista-class cruise liner is expected to call on St. John’s again in November.

In addition to Carnival Venezia, Virgin Valiant Lady, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, and Celebrity Beyond also visited Antigua Cruise Port, bringing the total passenger count for the day to 13,350 passengers.

This is a testament to the port’s growing popularity and its ability to attract some of the world’s largest cruise liners.

During the visit of Carnival Venezia, Officer In Charge at Antigua Cruise Port, Cynthia Jacobs Browne, accepted a gift from Captain Massimo Pennisi during a traditional plaque exchange ceremony. “We are delighted to have Carnival Venezia alongside today.

This visit is one of several that we anticipate from Carnival Cruise Line this year, which reflects the growing demand for our destination and for cruise vacations.”

Overall, the increasing number of cruise passengers visiting Antigua Cruise Port is a good sign for the tourism industry in the country.

It also underscores the importance of the port as a key destination for cruise liners in the Caribbean.