Cabinet Approves – By Jeressa Jeremy
Cabinet Approves Certificate Program
The Cabinet has approved a suite of policy measures designed to expand local participation in Antigua and Barbuda’s thriving tourism economy, including a new certificate program for tourism businesses and the allocation of land at three locations for Antiguans to develop tourist accommodations.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced the decisions at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, describing them as part of an “inclusive growth strategy for entertainment, leisure, and local economic participation.”
“The Cabinet agreed on a number of key policy decisions. One of them being the establishment of a certificate program by the Ministry of Tourism, and this is to legitimize and strengthen the participation of local businesses in the tourism, entertainment, and leisure certificates,” Merchant said.
Cabinet also approved the introduction of a licensing regime for real estate agents and property managers to protect consumers, raise industry standards, and support professionalism in the real estate sector.
The policy measures come as government projects the economy will reach close to $7 billion in output for the first time in the nation’s history. Merchant told reporters that recent estimates show robust GDP growth in 2025 with a projected expansion of around 5% this year, reflecting what Cabinet describes as “disciplined economic management, strategic investment, rising employment, and expanding economic activity.”
Cabinet members agreed that the unprecedented growth must translate into “broad-based opportunity and prosperity for local people,” rather than remaining what Merchant termed “an enclave industry.”
In what Merchant described as efforts to “deepen local engagement and ownership in high-level tourism assets,” Cabinet agreed to make land available at three locations for Antiguans and Barbudans to purchase and develop income-generating tourist accommodations.
Fifty acres will be made available at Willoughby Bay for a project similar to the previously announced Shell Beach development, where 50 lots have been allocated for Airbnb-style investment properties. Additionally, 15 acres have been assigned for local development at Royalton.
Cabinet also decided to make condominium units available for purchase by local individuals and business persons at the Heritage Hotel in St. John’s, where renovations are currently underway.
“This is for Antiguans and Barbudans to purchase and develop income-generating tourist accommodations, further enabling our citizens to participate in and also benefit from the tourism accommodation boom,” Merchant said.
As part of the broader package, ministers agreed to waive duties and taxes on capital equipment for tour and water sports operators to reduce barriers to entry and modernize local offerings in water-based tourism activities. Cabinet also approved incentives for local leisure and entertainment businesses to enhance their competitiveness, stimulate investment, and support growth of local entrepreneurs in the sector.
In a related move responding to concerns over foreign labor participation, Cabinet decided to centralize and strengthen oversight of work permit approvals. Going forward, the minister responsible will be assisted directly by Cabinet in the review and approval of work permits to ensure that jobs created by economic expansion prioritize qualified national workers.
Merchant said the measures reflect “a clear national agenda ensuring that the unprecedented growth being experienced over the past decade in the economy of Antigua and Barbuda is translated into broad-based opportunity and prosperity for local people, and also preserving the competitive edge of Antigua and Barbuda in the global leisure economy.”
