Antigua & Barbuda Posts Record Fiscal Surpluses

Antigua & Barbuda has recorded its strongest fiscal performance in decades, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne unveiling a primary surplus of $254.9 million and an overall surplus of $116.3 million in the 2026 national budget.

Presenting the budget to Parliament on Thursday, Browne credited disciplined fiscal policy, sustained economic growth, and robust revenue collection for the turnaround from the “deep deficits” inherited when his administration took office 11 years ago.

“A primary surplus of more than a quarter billion dollars means we are covering all expenditures – including interest – and still have funds left over,” Browne told lawmakers, calling it proof of a resilient, well-managed economy. The government has shifted, he said, from “borrowing heavily just to function” to generating consistent surpluses for strategic investment.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the nation’s debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen to 61.4 percent, down from an estimated 120 percent in 2014. The improved fiscal footing now enables expanded public investment, stronger social programs, and better protection for vulnerable households, Browne added.

The surplus reflects a broad-based recovery: tourism has rebounded strongly, construction is booming, import volumes are rising, and tax compliance has improved – all bolstered by post-pandemic economic momentum.

Titled “People-Centered Growth and Development,” the 2026 budget prioritizes education, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure, with new spending fully funded by the healthier balance sheet.

Parliamentary debate on the budget is set to begin next week.