Construction on the expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda could begin before the end of this year or by January or February 2027, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturday.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show following the campus’s graduation ceremony, Browne said an issue involving the bidding process had been resolved, clearing the way for the selection of a contractor.
“The bids have been opened. There was an issue with one of them. They have now cleared the issue,” he said.
Browne said he understood a final determination had been made Friday. He did not identify the bidder or explain the nature of the issue.
“By, if not by the end of the year, certainly by about January, February, construction will start the expansion of the university,” he said.
Browne described the expansion as a $200 million investment and said the construction spending would contribute to economic growth and development.
He projected that the expanded campus could attract 5,000 students within five years, citing its anticipated facilities, academic programmes and student accommodation.
“We’re spending $200 million,” he said. “Right after we complete the build-out in three years, that campus … is going to be the choice campus within the UWI ecosystem.”
Browne said dormitories would allow more students to live on campus, helping Five Islands attract applicants from across the Caribbean.
He urged Antiguans and Barbudans to take advantage of the educational opportunities available locally, warning that graduates from other Caribbean countries could increasingly compete for jobs in Antigua and Barbuda.
“If our people don’t seize the opportunity to get these degrees, they will come and displace you,” he said.
Browne encouraged adults to pursue university education regardless of age, including through mature-student entry and programmes that help applicants obtain the qualifications needed for admission.
He also outlined an ambition for every household to have at least one university graduate within 10 years, and for half the population to hold degrees within 15 to 20 years.
The prime minister congratulated the graduating class and said continued learning remained essential even after earning a qualification.
“You can’t adapt if you stop learning,” he said.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: UWI Five Islands expansion construction expected by early 2027.