分类： Business

Former chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA), Vernon Jeffers Sr, has voiced strong support for the government’s recent decision to invest in the tourism sector through the Social Security Board.

Speaking on _The Big Issues_ over the weekend, Jeffers—who also previously served as general manager of Jolly Beach Resort—described the move as a sensible and necessary step given tourism’s central role in the national economy.

“Well, my initial reaction from the moment I heard the Prime Minister make the announcement [was that] I fully support and endorse the idea,” Jeffers said. “At the end of the day, if tourism is ultimately our main industry, even from a government standpoint… the government and the people, on behalf and through Social Security, should also be willing to put their foot in and to play their role in carrying out such an investment.”

His comments come in the wake of confirmation by Prime Minister Gaston Browne that the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board had acquired Jolly Beach Resort, injecting capital to support the reopening of the long-closed facility.

The decision has sparked a national debate about the use of pension funds for commercial ventures, with critics warning of financial risks. However, Jeffers’ endorsement adds weight to the argument that strategic investments in the tourism sector could yield long-term benefits for the country.

Jeffers’ remarks are among the strongest public endorsements to date from a key tourism figure and highlight a growing consensus among some stakeholders about the need for bold measures to revitalise the sector.

The One Hundred and Eleventh (111th) Meeting of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was held on 18 July 2025 at the Boat House, Barbuda Ocean Club, in Antigua and Barbuda, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Gaston A. Browne.

The Council welcomed Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge to her first meeting as the Monetary Council member for Anguilla, following general elections in Anguilla in February 2025.

MONETARY STABILITY

The Monetary Council received the Governor’s Report on Monetary, Credit and Financial Conditions in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The Report provided global and ECCU updates on monetary, credit and financial conditions and assessed their potential impact in the near to medium term. The Governor’s Report indicated that:

1. The global economic environment has become considerably more uncertain.
2. Against the backdrop of an anticipated decrease in global trade, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed projections for 2025 global economic growth to 2.8 per cent from its earlier projections of 3.3 per cent (April 2025 IMF World Economic Outlook Report).
3. Energy prices are expected to moderate in 2025 due to weaker global demand. That said, energy prices are always susceptible to geopolitical developments.
4. ECCU economies have demonstrated marked resilience in the face of current and emerging global challenges.
5. The EC currency remains strong: the Backing Ratio (also known as the ratio of foreign assets to demand liabilities) is 97.5 per cent — significantly above the 60.0 per cent statutory requirement.

Foreign Reserves stood at EC$5.5 billion as at 11 July 2025 — up from EC$5.4 billion as at 11 October 2024.

• Monetary, credit and financial conditions in the ECCU remain stable and accommodative.
• The ECCU’s growth outlook is projected to expand by 3.3 per cent in 2025, down from the previously projected range of 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

Tourism; post-hurricane Beryl reconstruction; investments in physical infrastructure; and domestic-related construction are expected to continue to drive growth.

• The risks to the ECCU’s economic outlook are tilted heavily to the downside as economic uncertainty abounds with renewed geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions.
• Upside risks (opportunities) for the ECCU include increased investments in climate-resilient infrastructure; renewable energy development and financial inclusion through the ease of opening bank accounts and credit expansion with the rollout of the Credit Bureau.

Having considered the state of monetary, credit and financial conditions in the ECCU, the Monetary Council, on the recommendation of the Governor, agreed to:

1. Maintain the Minimum Savings Rate at 2.0 per cent; and
2. Maintain the Discount Rate at 3.0 per cent for short-term credit and 4.5 per cent for long-term credit.

The Minimum Savings Rate is the lowest rate that commercial banks can offer on savings deposits. The Central Bank’s Discount Rate is the rate at which the ECCB lends to member Governments and commercial banks.

FINANCIAL STABILITY

The Monetary Council was advised of the following developments in the ECCU financial sector:

1. The ECCU banking system remains resilient and stable, with a high level of liquidity.
2. An acceleration of private sector credit—driven primarily by increased lending to households—has resulted in the most rapid expansion in household lending since 2020.
3. Several regulatory initiatives are underway to further bolster the banking sector’s resilience and strength. These initiatives include, inter alia: integrating climate-related financial risks into the regulatory framework; continued onboarding of financial institutions by the Credit Bureau; implementation of the Basel II/III framework; and the establishment of the Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion in the Central Bank to address market conduct.

In support of financial stability, efforts at addressing risks include:

1. Lowering the risk profile of Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) programmes. On 2 July, the Interim Regulatory Commission (IRC) published the draft legislation for the establishment of a regional regulator for CBI/CIP – the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). The draft legislation is available on the ECCB’s website for public comment and followed a series of in-country consultations.

• Monitoring and managing systemic risks in the financial system. The Monetary Council considered and approved the institutional arrangements to support macro-prudential stability. The Council directed the ECCB to draft the Financial Stability Law, which will provide the legal authority for the establishment of a Regional Financial Stability Committee (RFSC). The RFSC will include the ECCB and all financial regulators in the Currency Union.

FISCAL AND DEBT SUSTAINABILITY

The ECCU fiscal situation showed signs of improvement in 2024, due to increased economic activity and stronger fiscal management. The Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM) continues to be a vital source of funding for member Governments.

At the end of January 2025, the RGSM achieved a milestone of $20 billion raised by ECCU governments since its inception in 2001. The RGSM also recorded an almost 10.0 per cent increase in the amounts raised over the first three months of 2025 compared with the corresponding three months of 2024. This is the highest first quarter performance since 2022.

GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS

The start of the Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility (RREIIF), a regional multi-million-dollar World Bank-financed initiative developed under the leadership of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in partnership with ECCU member governments, is welcomed. The initiative aims to mobilise concessional finance and private capital to scale up renewable energy development in the ECCU.

Positive economic “ripple” effects from this initiative will include: increased energy security; grid and infrastructure development; and job creation.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION

To address public concerns about the difficulty of opening bank accounts, the ECCB and the ECCU Bankers’ Association have launched the ECCU First Step Savings Account. Individuals are required to present only one form of valid photo ID as part of a simplified due diligence and enhanced customer experience. This account is interest-bearing and is not subject to minimum balances. The current limit, however, for this account is $36,000.

DATE AND VENUE OF THE 112TH MEETING OF THE MONETARY COUNCIL

The Council agreed that the 112th Meeting of the Monetary Council will be convened on Friday, 31 October 2025 at 9:00 a.m. via virtual transmission.

PARTICIPATION

Council Members attending the meeting were:

1. Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Antigua and Barbuda (Chairman)
2. Honourable Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier and Minister for Finance, Anguilla
3. Honourable Dennis Cornwall, Minister for Finance, Grenada
4. Honourable Reuben Meade, Premier and Minister for Finance, Montserrat
5. Honourable Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis
6. Honourable Philip J Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Saint Lucia

18 July 2025

Direct air service between Antigua and Colombia is set to launch in September 2025, following a new partnership between regional airline LIAT20 and Latin American travel company BlueSea.

The announcement was made during a press conference featuring BlueSea CEO Maria Britto Bettini and Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernandez.

The agreement will initially see weekly charter flights between St. John’s and Cartagena, with plans to increase frequency based on demand.

Minister Fernandez described the service as a vital step for travellers—particularly Colombian nationals—who face challenges navigating multiple airport connections, especially those without U.S. visas.

He also noted the importance of the route for individuals seeking medical treatment in Colombia.

Britto Bettini highlighted her dedication to reestablishing direct links between Colombia and Antigua and Barbuda, which were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new route will offer a non-stop journey of just two and a half hours.

CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James, welcomed the development as a significant opportunity to grow visitor arrivals from South America.