Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has criticized individuals whom he believes are attempting to undermine the strong relationship between his country and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He mentioned specific individuals, including D. Gisele Isaac and Serpent, accusing them of forgetting the benefits that Antigua and Barbuda has received from China over the years.
Prime Minister Browne emphasized, “People like D. Gisele Isaac and Serpent and so on are trying to undermine the relationship between Antigua and the People’s Republic of China.”
He pointed out that these individuals seemed to have forgotten the past contributions of the PRC, stating, “They seem to have forgotten that the [Sir Vivian Richards Cricket] Stadium, though emanated under the Lester Bird Administration, was built under the UPP Administration and that they benefited from the facility.”
Regarding the financial support from China, the Prime Minister highlighted, “They got funding in the amount of $55 million US, a concession loan from the PRC.” He questioned the motives of critics, asking, “I don’t know why they would now want to undermine what is easily the most significant developmental relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and any other country at this time.”
Prime Minister Browne underscored the importance of the China-Antigua relationship in socio-economic development, stating, “In terms of building out our socio-economic infrastructure, there’s no other country within the last 20 years that has made a more significant contribution towards the socioeconomic development of Antigua and Barbuda than the PRC.”
