PM Browne Eyes Overseas Workers to Hit 5,000-Home Construction Target

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has signalled that the government may recruit construction workers from overseas to meet its ambitious housing targets, citing a critical shortage of local labour as one of the biggest obstacles to its housing programme.

According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the remarks during his weekly radio programme, where he outlined plans to dramatically expand the country's housing stock over the next decade.

"What we're trying to do is to scale up to about 500 homes a year," Browne said. "We just don't have enough workers."

The Prime Minister acknowledged that while financing remains a challenge, the lack of both skilled and unskilled labour is equally limiting the pace of construction. To address this, the government is exploring options to bolster its workforce, including the possibility of bringing in workers from abroad to supplement local labour.

Browne set out an ambitious long-term goal of constructing at least 5,000 homes over the next ten years — a target he said could transform the lives of thousands of residents.

"In the next 10 years, we must deliver no less than 5,000 homes to the people," he said.

The Prime Minister estimated that achieving this goal could benefit as many as 15,000 people. "If you provide 5,000 homes, on average about three persons per home, we are literally transitioning about 15,000 people into middle-income housing," he said.

Demand for housing, Browne noted, remains exceptionally high. Approximately 7,500 applications are currently on file, and he indicated that the number continues to grow even as new units are completed and allocated.

To finance the programme's expansion, the government is exploring a proposed $100 million housing bond, which Browne said could help raise annual construction output to between 300 and 400 homes before eventually reaching the 500-home target.

The National Housing Development and Urban Renewal Company has also been directed to step up recruitment efforts as part of the broader push to accelerate building activity.

Browne said that securing both additional financing and a larger workforce will be essential for the government to keep pace with demand and achieve its long-term goal of expanding home ownership opportunities across Antigua and Barbuda.