Gaston Browne

Gaston Alphonso Browne (born 9 February 1967) is an Antiguan politician serving as the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and leader of the Labour Party since 2014. Before entering politics, he was a banker and businessman.

Early life Browne was born on 9 February 1967, in the Villa area of St. John's. As a child, he lived in Point with his paternal great-grandmother, who was in her eighties at the time, partially blind, poor, and aging.

Career Following graduation, Browne secured a position with the Swiss American Banking Group, a major banking consortium in Antigua and Barbuda that consists of offshore and onshore banks and a trust company. He eventually advanced to the position of commercial banking manager.

He entered politics in 1999, being elected to parliament for the constituency of St. John's City West. In his first term, he was appointed minister of planning, trade, industry, commerce, and public service affairs.

Browne challenged and defeated Lester Bird in the leadership race for Labour Party in November 2012 with a margin of 213 to 180 and was appointed as leader of the opposition in December 2012.

Prime minister Gaston Browne led the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to victory in the 2014 Antiguan general election, winning 14 out of 17 seats. Browne was sworn in as prime minister on 13 June 2014. He defeated Baldwin Spencer's United Progressive Party (UPP), which had ruled for 10 years. Browne also held the office of Minister of Finance.

On 21 March 2018 general election, he successfully led his party to its second consecutive electoral victory. He was sworn in for a second term as prime minister on 22 March 2018. In the general election of 18 January 2023, he won his third term in office—a unique achievement in the history of Antigua and Barbuda —but this time with a slim majority of nine seats against the eight allocated to the opposition. On 15 July 2024, MP Anthony Smith resigned as a member of the UPP, becoming an independent parliamentarian but effectively moving into the ranks of the majority, strengthening Browne's leadership. The following day, he was sworn in before Governor-General Rodney Williams as the new minister of agriculture, lands, fisheries, and the blue economy, becoming the first independent MP in Antigua and Barbuda's history to receive a cabinet position. On 14 January 2025, ABLP candidate Rawdon Turner emerged victorious in St. Peter by-election, called following the death of independent MP Asot Michael, fortifying the governing majority even more. Turner is sworn in as minister of social and urban transformation on 15 January 2025.

The Caribbean Global Awards ranked Gaston Browne 9th on the Caribbean Leaders' top 10 list for the year 2024.

In April 2026, Browne got reelected in a general election, winning his fourth term. Browne and the attorney general, Steadroy Benjamin, were sworn in on 1 May. However, due to an incorrect oath being administered after a recent legal amendment, the two had to be sworn in a second time on 2 May.

Aftermath of Hurricane Irma On 6 September 2017 Hurricane Irma swept through Barbuda. Gaston Browne stated that the Category 5 storm had destroyed 95% of the structures and vehicles. Initial estimates showed that at least 60% of the island's residents were homeless because of the disaster. All communications with Barbuda were completely down for a time; most of the communications system had been destroyed.

On 8 September 2017, Browne said, "Barbuda right now is literally a rubble" with no water or phone service; he said there had been only a single fatality. The government had almost completed the evacuation of the entire island; nearly 1,800 people were transferred to Antigua.

On the same day, the first of three cargo planes arrived from the US, with over 120,000 pounds of relief for Barbuda, paid for by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and by donations from Martin Franklyn and the Coleman Company in the US. Also on 8 September, Browne discussed Barbuda's urgent needs with Administrator Mark Green of the United States Agency for International Development. USAID had already sent a disaster assistance response team and continued to coordinate with the government and relief organizations.

Browne's government was facing a massive challenge. An estimate published by Time indicated that over US$100 million would be required to rebuild homes and infrastructure. Director of Antigua and Barbuda's National Office of Disaster Services, Philmore Mullin, said, "All critical infrastructure and utilities are non-existent—food supply, medicine, shelter, electricity, water, communications, and waste management," adding, "Public utilities need to be rebuilt in their entirety ... It is optimistic to think anything can be rebuilt in six months ... In my 25 years in disaster management, I have never seen something like this."

Republicanism

During a visit by the Earl and Countess of Wessex for the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, Browne asked the Earl if the couple would use their diplomatic influence to support reparations for slavery to Caribbean Community nations and announced his country would become a republic. Following the death of the Queen, Browne has said he would call for a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years. Browne says, "This is not an act of hostility or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to complete that circle of independence, to ensure that we are truly a sovereign nation." He added the country would remain a member of the Commonwealth regardless of the outcome.

Foreign policy

According to Browne, the United States is "the most important country" to the Caribbean in terms of tourism and trade, and Beijing provides aid to the Caribbean through grants, concessional loans, and infrastructure projects.

His government sold the yacht of Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev, Alfa Nero. Alfa Nero was seized following the imposition of economic sanctions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Guryev's daughter, Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, filed a lawsuit claiming she is the real owner of the yacht. Gaston Browne said the yacht's maintenance was costing taxpayers $28,000 a week.

Family and personal life

Browne is married to Maria Bird-Browne, niece of the second prime minister Lester Bird. He had three children prior to that marriage. The couple have a son, Prince Gaston Browne, In 2023, it was announced that one of Browne's sons was serving as the Vice Minister of State of the Joseon Cybernation as well as the Joseon Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda. He lives outside of his constituency in Hodges Bay and also owns a villa in Jolly Harbour.

Browne also produces reggae music with the assistance of artificial intelligence, performing under his self-described alter ego, Gassy Dread. Browne is one of the persons on The Browne & Browne Show panel, the flagship program of the Pointe Broadcasting Network which is based in his constituency.