Gaston Browne

Last updated

Maria Bird
​
(m. 2013)​
The Right Honourable
Gaston Browne
10 06 2022 Segunda Sessao Plenaria da IX Cupula das Americas (52137201805) (cropped).jpg
Browne in 2022
4th Prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 June 2014
EducationCity Banking College
University of Manchester

Gaston Alfonso Browne (born 9 February 1967) is an Antiguan politician serving as the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and leader of the Labour Party since 2014. Before entering politics, he was a banker and businessman.

Contents

Early life

Browne was born on 9 February 1967, days before the Associated State of Antigua was established, in the Villa area of St. John's. [4] [5] His life as a teenager was extremely tough. As a child, he lived in Point with his paternal great-grandmother, who was in her eighties at the time, partially blind, poor and aging. After her death he grew up in Point, another impoverished area. [4]

Education

After completing his secondary education, Browne attended the City Banking College in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a BSc in banking and finance. Later, he attended the University of Manchester, acquiring an MBA in Finance. [6] [7] [8]

Career

Following graduation, Browne secured a position with the Swiss American Banking Group, a major banking consortium in Antigua and Barbuda that comprises offshore and onshore banks and a trust company. He eventually advanced to the position of Commercial Banking Manager.

He entered politics in 1999, being elected to parliament for the constituency of St. John's City West. In his first term he was appointed Minister of Planning, Trade, Industry, Commerce and Public Service Affairs.[ citation needed ]

Browne challenged and defeated Lester Bird in the leadership race for Labour Party in November 2012 with a margin of 213 to 180, and was appointed as leader of the opposition in December 2012. [9]

Prime minister

Gaston Browne led the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to victory in the 12 June 2014 general election, after 10 years in opposition, winning 14 out of 17 seats. Browne was sworn in as prime minister on 13 June 2014. [10] He defeated Baldwin Spencer's UPP, which had ruled for 10 years. Browne also held the office of Minister of Finance. [11]

Aftermath of Hurricane Irma

On 6 September 2017 Hurricane Irma swept through Barbuda. Gaston Browne stated that the Category 5 storm had destroyed 95% of the structures and vehicles. [12] Initial estimates showed that at least 60% of the island's residents were homeless because of the disaster. [13] All communications with Barbuda were completely down for a time; most of the communications system had been destroyed. [14]

On 8 September 2017, Browne said: "Barbuda right now is literally a rubble" with no water or phone service; he said there had been only a single fatality. [15] The government had almost completed the evacuation of the entire island; nearly 1,800 people were transferred to Antigua. [16]

On the same day, the first of three cargo planes arrived from the US, with over 120,000 pounds of relief for Barbuda, paid for by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and by donations from Martin Franklyn and the Coleman Company in the US. [17] Also on 8 September, Browne discussed Barbuda's urgent needs with Administrator Mark Green of the United States Agency for International Development. USAID had already sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team and continued to coordinate with the government and relief organizations. [18]

Browne's government was facing a massive challenge. An estimate published by Time indicated that over US$100 million would be required to rebuild homes and infrastructure. Philmore Mullin, Director of Antigua and Barbuda's National Office of Disaster Services, said that "all critical infrastructure and utilities are non-existent – food supply, medicine, shelter, electricity, water, communications, waste management", adding "Public utilities need to be rebuilt in their entirety ... It is optimistic to think anything can be rebuilt in six months ... In my 25 years in disaster management, I have never seen something like this." [19]

Republicanism

During a visit by the Earl and Countess of Wessex for the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, Browne asked the Earl if the couple would use their diplomatic influence to support reparations for slavery to Caribbean Community nations, and announced that his country would become a republic. [20] Following the death of the Queen, Browne announced that he would call for a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years, saying "This is not an act of hostility or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to complete that circle of independence, to ensure that we are truly a sovereign nation." He added that the country would remain a member of the Commonwealth regardless of the outcome. [21]

Family and personal life

Gaston Browne and his wife Maria with Catherine, Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace, May 2023 Buckingham Palace reception (52873156666).jpg
Gaston Browne and his wife Maria with Catherine, Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace, May 2023

Browne is married to Maria Bird-Browne, niece of the second prime minister Lester Bird. [22] He had three children prior to that marriage. The couple have a son, Prince Gaston Browne, [7] and a daughter born in September 2020. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda</span> Country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies

Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country in the Caribbean. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Antigua and Barbuda</span>

The politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a unitary parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, wherein the sovereign of Antigua and Barbuda is the head of state, appointing a governor-general to act as vice-regal representative in the nation. A prime minister is appointed by the governor-general as the head of government, and of a multi-party system; the prime minister advises the governor-general on the appointment of a Council of Ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Antigua and Barbuda</span>

The history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the period from the arrival of the Archaic peoples thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The island was claimed by England, who settled the islands in 1632. Under English/British control, the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves migrate to the island. In 1981, the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Bird</span> Antiguan politician (1938–2021)

Sir Lester Bryant Bird was an Antiguan politician and athlete who served as the second prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 2004. He was chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) from 1971 to 1983, then became prime minister when his father, Sir Vere Bird, the previous prime minister, resigned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party</span> Antiguan political party

The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. The current leader of the party is Gaston Browne, who serves as the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. The party had previously been led by Lester Bird, who was chairman of the party since 1971, and was Prime Minister and political leader in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baldwin Spencer (politician)</span> Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Winston Baldwin Spencer is an Antiguan politician who was the third prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 2004 to 2014.

Asot Michael was an Antiguan politician who was a member of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, elected from Saint Peter Constituency. He was also the Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He had previously been a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.

Sir Molwyn Joseph, KGCN, is an Antiguan politician and Chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). First entering politics in 1984 when he was made a Minister without Portfolio in the government of Vere Bird, Joseph became Minister of Finance seven years later, renegotiating the Antiguan national debt and introducing fiscal reforms. After a 1996 scandal in which it was discovered he had used his position to import a 1930s Rolls-Royce for a friend, bypassing normal import duties and taxes, he was dismissed from the Bird administration, returning 14 months later to serve as Minister for Planning, Implementation and the Environment. Following the 1999 general election, he became Minister of Heath and Social Improvement before being made Minister of Tourism and the Environment a few months later. As Minister, Joseph attempted to improve the perception of Antigua as a tourist destination and invest in the industry, spending 2 million US dollars increasing the number of hotel rooms on the island and providing money for both Air Jamaica and Air Luxor to provide flights to the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 12 June 2014. The result was a victory for the opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party led by Gaston Browne, which won 14 of the 17 seats. Following the election, Browne became the country's youngest Prime Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

The high commissioner of India in Georgetown, Guyana is concurrently accredited to Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda maintains an honorary consulate general in New Delhi.

The Barbuda Land Acts establishes that the citizens of Barbuda communally own the land. The act specifies that residents must provide consent for major development projects on the island. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda passed the act on January 17, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 21 March 2018 to elect members to House of Representatives of the 15th Antigua and Barbuda Parliament. Each of the 17 constituencies elected one Member of Parliament (MP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda–Mexico relations</span> Bilateral relations

The nations of Antigua and Barbuda and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1984. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of American States and the United Nations.

The University of the West Indies at Five Islands is a public research university in Five Islands, Antigua and Barbuda. It is the newest of 5 general campuses in the University of the West Indies system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Bird-Browne</span> Member of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda

Maria Vanessa Bird-Browne is a politician in Antigua and Barbuda. She was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for St. John's Rural East in the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda in 2018, becoming the youngest lawmaker in the country. She is the country's minister for housing, lands, and urban renewal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Walker</span> Antigua and Barbuda politician

Trevor Myke Walker is a Barbudan politician, current member of parliament for Barbuda, and former Cabinet Minister under the Baldwin Spencer administration. He is a member of the Barbuda People's Movement, a party that seeks the independence of Barbuda from Antigua and Barbuda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Antigua and Barbuda</span>

Squatting in the island country of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Historically, native Barbudans were seen as squatters and after Hurricane Irma in 2017, Prime Minister Gaston Browne offered people he termed squatters the chance to buy their land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 18 January 2023 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party (ABLP) has held an absolute majority of 15 seats in the House of Representatives after the 2018 general election, with Gaston Browne remaining as prime minister. Browne initiated a constitutional referendum after the 2018 election, which was rejected by voters, and following the death of Elizabeth II in 2022, he announced his intention to organise a referendum for the transition of Antigua and Barbuda to a republican system. Besides ABLP, the United Progressive Party (UPP), Democratic National Alliance, Barbuda People's Movement (BPM), and three independent politicians filed candidacies for the 2023 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Christian</span> Antiguan and Barbudan politician

Gail Christian is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and senator. She is a senator of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. She was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Royal tours of Antigua and Barbuda by its royal family have been taking place since the 20th century. Elizabeth II, Queen of Antigua and Barbuda, visited the country thrice: in 1966, 1977, and 1985.

References

  1. 1 2 "Rotation Schedule for the Chairmanship of the Conference 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2025" (PDF). Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "thebahamasweekly.com - PM leads ministerial delegation to CARICOM Heads meetings". www.thebahamasweekly.com.
  3. ↑ "Opening Remarks by Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM at the CARICOM - US Summit Kingston, Jamaica 9 April 2015". 10 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Meet Gaston Browne" Archived 24 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine , Gaston Browne website.
  5. ↑ "ABLP Wins" Archived 13 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine , Daily Observer, 13 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda" Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine , Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
  7. 1 2 "ABLP leader Hon. Gaston Browne ties the knot", Caribbean Times. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Gaston Browne", Henley Global.
  9. ↑ "Gaston Browne Is Antigua's New Opposition Leader". www.radiojamaicanewsonline.com.
  10. ↑ Jacqueline Charles, "Browne becomes new prime minister of Antigua, youngest ever", The Miami Herald, 13 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Government of Antigua and Barbuda". ab.gov.ag.
  12. ↑ Fowler, Tara (8 September 2017). "Battered Caribbean islands brace for 2nd major hurricane in a week". ABC News.
  13. ↑ "Barbuda 'totally demolished' but Antigua spared, says PM* Archived 7 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine ". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Caribbean Communication Network. 6 September 2017.
  14. ↑ Bosotti, Aurora. "Hurricane Irma UPDATE: Barbuda diplomat says ALL CONTACT has been lost with island". Express Newspapers. 6 September 2017.
  15. ↑ Laura Smith-Spark; Marilia Brocchetto (6 September 2017). "Deaths reported as Hurricane Irma batters northern Caribbean islands". CNN. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  16. ↑ Loria, Kevin (8 September 2017). "Barbuda is trying to totally evacuate today ahead of Hurricane Jose after Hurricane Irma 'demolished' 90% of the island". Business Insider.
  17. ↑ "Government's Hurricane relief for Barbuda begin arriving on Antigua Friday". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  18. ↑ "USAID Administrator Mark Green's Call with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister, Antigua and Barbuda". usaid.gov. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  19. ↑ "Hurricane Irma Flattens Barbuda, Leaving Population Stranded". Time. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  20. ↑ Das, Shanti (1 May 2022). "Royals, republicanism and reparations: Wessexes feel the heat in Caribbean". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda to hold republic referendum within three years, says PM". The Guardian. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "Antigua & Barbuda: Gaston Browne, New Opposition Leader – Begins Prepping for General Elections", The Habari Network, 26, November 2012.
  23. ↑ "PM Browne says wife and baby are 'doing very well'". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda
Preceded by Member of Parliament for St. John's City West
1999–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party
2012–present		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
2014–present		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of Finance of Antigua and Barbuda
2014–present
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Chair of the Caribbean Community
2014		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Caribbean Community
2021		Succeeded by
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