Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he intends to pursue deeper regional integration in energy, transportation, trade and logistics when he assumes chairmanship of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Authority next month.
Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne said closer cooperation among OECS member states could help reduce costs and strengthen economic resilience across the Eastern Caribbean.
“So what I’m going to try and do is certainly to see how I can help to accelerate greater collaboration cooperation within OECS, so that we can collaborate on issues of investment and trade, even energy, geothermal, for example, and to support each other,” Browne said.
The prime minister linked the regional agenda to ongoing discussions involving geothermal energy cooperation with Saint Kitts and Nevis and support from the European Union.
Browne said Antigua and Barbuda is in “advanced discussions” with St. Kitts and Nevis on plans to purchase geothermal power generated in Nevis through an undersea transmission link connecting the two countries.
“So we can run a line from Nevis to Antigua, and I guarantee it will be far cheaper to buy it from them than to be found in the fossil fuel,” Browne said.
He said the European Union is considering advancing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to help St. Kitts and Nevis develop geothermal capacity, while Antigua and Barbuda has agreed to purchase the power to help make the project commercially viable.
Browne also said Antigua and Barbuda is advocating for the creation of an OECS airline to improve regional connectivity.
“We are pushing to have St. Kitts Nevis and other OECS countries support the creation of an OECS airline,” he said.
The prime minister outlined broader proposals for regional cooperation, including using Antigua’s expanded port facilities as a logistics hub for consolidated shipping across the OECS.
“We may be able to consolidate shipments here and then fan out to other OECS countries and to drive down the cost,” Browne said, adding that discussions are underway with a major global shipping company and could conclude within 30 days.
He also advocated joint procurement arrangements and shared diplomatic representation among OECS member states to lower operating costs.
“We each don’t have to have an embassy in every capital. Let us have a joint representation,” Browne said.
Browne argued that greater regional integration could help lower energy and living costs across the OECS while improving economic sustainability and competitiveness for small island states.