Government’s Housing Project

While at the Third CELAC Summit, the honourable prime minister also held bilateral talks with Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Antonio Meade.

The subject was support for his government’s housing project, which envisions the construction of two thousand homes over the next four years.

Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne was accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister the Hon. Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Colin Murdoch.

Prime Minister Browne began the meeting by outlining the socio-economic situation in Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting the inadequacy of the country’s housing stock both in terms of quality and quantity.

He explained that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s arrangements with the Banco Nacional del Comercio Exterior of Mexico regarding a loan of US$45 million for the project, is in advance stages.

He said the funds being made available would allow for approximately 800 homes to be built in Antigua and Barbuda.

Browne pointed out that the funds from Mexico were being made available under a special arrangement, and that the repayment terms were such that Antigua and Barbuda, even with its current fiscal challenges, would not find them onerous.

It is expected that the Mexican foreign affairs minister will make an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda in the coming weeks, when the matter is expected to be finalized.