Antigua, Jan 1, CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his administration will focus on boosting the economy and unemployment and lowering the crime rate.
In his address to mark the start of the New Year, Browne said the current level of unemployment is a “human tragedy”.
“I am profoundly concerned about unemployment. Human dignity and self-respect are undermined when men and women are condemned to beg and to borrow…..the state of unemployment is my most grievous concern and reducing it is my greatest and most consuming ambition.”
He added that since coming into power, the most significant contribution of his Government is that of saving the country from total collapse.
The Prime Minister said the previous administration left the country in a chronically weak fiscal situation.
According to Browne, the government has started to lay the foundations for recovery.
“We have paid down delinquent debt and made our country regain a credit worthy relationship with our lenders.
On the crime situation, he said the climate of criminality cannot continue.
“Not only does it terrorize our population without regard for poor or rich, young or old, private homes or commercial offices, it destabilizes the environment for attracting investment and growing the economy.”
He said the government will be harsh on home invasions and violent crime, particularly gun crimes until we stomp them out of our society.
“There can be no excuse for violent crime, and none for gun crime, because we are creating jobs; we are bringing in investment to create even more jobs and we are establishing the machinery to address poverty.”
PM appoints financial guru as special economic envoy
Meanwhile CMC reports – by Prime Minister Gaston Browne appointed International financial guru, Martin Ellis Franklin, as a Special Economic Envoy of Antigua and Barbuda.
Franklin, is widely known across North America in the investment and executive management fields
“My government feels that Mr. Franklin is strategically placed to attract a wide range of investments to Antigua and Barbuda. His management and representation of dozens of consumer product companies in North America we believe can be beneficial to my government achieving our vision of making Antigua and Barbuda and economic powerhouse within the region.”
Prime Minister Browne also paid tribute to his father, Sir Roland Franklin, whom he said has been a long standing friend of Antigua and Barbuda and a benefactor of many individuals and institutions within the state.
“Sir Roland has over the years demonstrated his commitment to his adopted homeland and it is fitting that his son is coming onboard with our administration to lend his expertise to further develop our capacity to provide for our people,” the Prime Minister added.
Franklin, who is listed as one of the richest men in the world by Forbes is Founder and Executive Chairman of Jarden Corporation.
Prior to taking his current role in 2011, he had served as Chairman and Chief Executive of the Company since its inception.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Consul General in Miami, Ambassador Gilbert Boustany, who formalized the working relationship between the government and Martin Franklin said he will also provide assistance in certain areas in the government’s debt restructuring and management along with attracting investors in the financial services market
