Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda is approaching a new phase of development that he believes will position the country ahead of many of its Caribbean counterparts in the coming years.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne radio programme, Browne said the government’s investments in infrastructure, tourism and housing are laying the foundation for what he described as a national economic “renaissance.”

“We are literally on the cusp of a renaissance,” Browne said, adding that the next stage of growth will become increasingly visible over the next few years.

According to the prime minister, the country has spent the past several years building out key economic and social infrastructure, which he said is now positioning Antigua and Barbuda for stronger expansion.

“This is where we’re going to put space between ourselves and our Caribbean brothers and sisters in terms of the work that we have done and the results that you’ll see in the upcoming years,” Browne said.

Browne pointed to a series of developments across the country that he said illustrate the scale of ongoing investment, including tourism expansion in areas such as Jolly Harbour and Barbuda, as well as new residential communities and infrastructure upgrades.

He said Antigua and Barbuda is already seeing significant growth in its tourism sector, noting that the expansion of cruise port infrastructure has contributed to increased visitor arrivals.

The prime minister also highlighted major housing programmes and development initiatives, including projects aimed at improving housing stock and expanding home ownership opportunities for citizens.

Browne said these efforts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s economic base and improve living standards.

He predicted that by around 2027 or 2028 the impact of the current wave of development projects will become more evident, transforming Antigua and Barbuda into what he described as a more competitive and prosperous economy within the Caribbean region.