Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has openly rejected the notion that China is creating a “debt trap” through its financial assistance and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Browne made these remarks during an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG), following his official visit to China from January 22 to 28. During his visit, Browne met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.
Antigua and Barbuda was the first Eastern Caribbean country to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on cooperation within the BRI framework in 2018. Browne highlighted that the country has benefited from access to financial resources that may not have been available through traditional international financial institutions. He emphasized that the assistance received from China has been crucial for the development of infrastructure projects in Antigua and Barbuda.
“What would have happened during the last two decades is that Antigua and Barbuda have gained access to concessional funding, funding that ordinarily we could not access through the World Bank or the IMF and even on better terms. So the detractors of the PRC speak about the ‘debt trap’. I can tell you that is certainly not true,” Browne said.
Browne praised China as “the most benevolent country on the planet” and expressed gratitude for the assistance in improving infrastructure in Antigua and Barbuda. He specifically mentioned the rebuilding of the airport, the airport terminal, and the seaport, which were made possible through concessional loans and assistance from China.
The renovation and expansion of St. John’s Harbor, a BRI project, was completed in September 2022. The new port is now capable of hosting multiple container ships and cruise ships simultaneously, transforming it into a major transport hub for the region. With a total area of about 12,000 square meters, the harbor can accommodate two 10,000-ton ships at the same time, and it will have an annual capacity of 550,000 tons as the largest shipping hub in the region.
The project was contracted to China Civil Engineering Construction Corp and financed by a concessional loan of 600 million yuan (approximately $86.22 million) from the Export-Import Bank of China. Local people have expressed hope that the project will create more jobs and improve their quality of life.
Jumane Atanadze, an administrative official at the port, said, “Due to the new port that we have right now, we have better innovations, better technology, and a better facility, to be honest. It has brought a better way of life.”
Shane Samuel, an engineering adviser at the port, added, “The project has been happening since [in] August 2019. I think it’s a good thing for the port, in terms of redefining and primarily upgrading the spaces and basically uplifting the area. And of course, it has brought many benefits for the cargo importation to Antigua and Barbuda.”
