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 Alphonso 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]

On 21 March 2018 general election, he successfully leaded his party to its second consecutive electoral victory. He sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister on 22 March 2018. [12] In the general election of 18 January 2023, he won his third term in office - a unique achievement in the history of Antigua and Barbuda [13] - but this time with a slim majority of nine seats against the eight allocated to the opposition. [14] On 15 July 2024, MP Anthony Smith resigned as a member of the United Progressive Party (UPP), becoming an independent parliamentarian but effectively moving into the ranks of the majority, strengthening Browne's leadership. [15] The following day, he sworn in before Governor-General Rodney Williams as the new Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, becoming the first independent MP in Antigua and Barbuda's history to receive a cabinet position. [16] [17] On January 14, 2025, ABLP candidate Rawdon Turner emerged victorious in St. Peter by-election, called following the tragic death of independent MP Asot Michael, fortifying the governing majority even more. [18] [19] [20] Turner sworn in as Minister of Social and Urban Transformation on January 15, 2025. [21]

The Caribbean Global Awards [22] ranked Gaston Browne 9th on Caribbean Leader’s top 10 list for the year 2024. [23]

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. [24] Initial estimates showed that at least 60% of the island's residents were homeless because of the disaster. [25] All communications with Barbuda were completely down for a time; most of the communications system had been destroyed. [26]

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. [27] The government had almost completed the evacuation of the entire island; nearly 1,800 people were transferred to Antigua. [28]

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. [29] 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. [30]

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." [31]

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. [32] 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. [33]

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. [34] He had three children prior to that marriage. The couple have a son, Prince Gaston Browne, [7] and a daughter born in September 2020. [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

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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. ↑ Manos Karousos (26 May 2022). "Gaston Browne (1967- ) •" . Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Editorial Staff (19 January 2023). "ABLP claims narrow victory at the polls - Antigua and Barbuda News !" . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Editorial Staff (19 January 2023). "Antigua and Barbuda Labour party retains office - Antigua and Barbuda News !" . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  15. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 July 2024). "BREAKING: Anthony Smith Resigns From UPP - Antigua and Barbuda News !" . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  16. ↑ Editorial Staff (16 July 2024). "Anthony Smith Officially Sworn in as Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy - Antigua and Barbuda News !" . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Editorial Staff (16 July 2024). ""You have a service to give" GG tells Anthony Smith - Antigua and Barbuda News !" . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 January 2025). "Turner elated over election victory - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  19. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 January 2025). "Rawdon Turner to be named Minister in the Gaston Browne Administration - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  20. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 January 2025). "VIDEO: Rawdon Turner Elected as New Representative for St Peter - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  21. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 January 2025). "Rawdon Turner Officially Sworn in as Minister of Social and Urban Transformation - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  22. ↑ Awards, Caribbean Global. "Caribbean Global Awards". Caribbean Global Awards. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  23. ↑ Editorial Staff (5 April 2024). "PM Gaston Browne is 9th on Caribbean Leader's top 10 list - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 19 January 2025. Antigua.news
  24. ↑ Fowler, Tara (8 September 2017). "Battered Caribbean islands brace for 2nd major hurricane in a week". ABC News.
  25. ↑ "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.
  26. ↑ Bosotti, Aurora. "Hurricane Irma UPDATE: Barbuda diplomat says ALL CONTACT has been lost with island". Express Newspapers. 6 September 2017.
  27. ↑ Laura Smith-Spark; Marilia Brocchetto (6 September 2017). "Deaths reported as Hurricane Irma batters northern Caribbean islands". CNN. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ "Government's Hurricane relief for Barbuda begin arriving on Antigua Friday". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  30. ↑ "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.
  31. ↑ "Hurricane Irma Flattens Barbuda, Leaving Population Stranded". Time. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  32. ↑ Das, Shanti (1 May 2022). "Royals, republicanism and reparations: Wessexes feel the heat in Caribbean". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  33. ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda to hold republic referendum within three years, says PM". The Guardian. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "Antigua & Barbuda: Gaston Browne, New Opposition Leader – Begins Prepping for General Elections", The Habari Network, 26, November 2012.
  35. ↑ "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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