Antigua and Barbuda's Minister Kiz Johnson has called on Caribbean nations to treat women's economic empowerment as a collective regional responsibility, arguing that financial inclusion is fundamental to the sustainable development of the Caribbean. According to Antigua News Room, Johnson made the remarks during a ministerial dialogue, where she addressed both regional leaders and the Inter-American Commission on Women.
"Antigua and Barbuda believes that one of the key essentials to the sustainable development of the Caribbean is financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women," Johnson said. "We also hold the view that it is not the obligation of one state or a group of states, but it's our collective responsibility of all the states."
Johnson urged the Inter-American Commission on Women to continue assisting member states in dismantling the structural barriers that limit opportunities for women across the region. "Encouraging the Inter-American Commission on Women to continue to assist the member states in eliminating barriers to entrepreneurship, land ownership, higher education, and job opportunities at all ranks," she said.
The minister also highlighted a persistent inequity within the tourism sector — the economic backbone of many Caribbean nations. While Antigua and Barbuda has few formal barriers to women's participation in the workforce, Johnson acknowledged that women remain overrepresented in lower-paid, lower-ranking roles within the industry.
"In Antigua and Barbuda, as for many of our states, tourism remains the drive of our economy. But while we boast of having little to no barriers to women's participation in the economy, we have noticed an over-representation of women in lower paid and lower ranking roles in that same industry," she said.
Johnson said the government has responded by making women's economic advancement a stated priority, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship and access to financing. "Our government, we've taken it very seriously and so we've made it our priority to focus on economic advancement, entrepreneurship, and access to financing, that is key," she said.
