Gaston Browne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaston Browne
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Browne in 2022
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| 4th Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda | |
| Assumed office 13 June 2014 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governor-General | Louise Lake-Tack Rodney Williams |
| Preceded by | Baldwin Spencer |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 30 June 2021 |
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| Secretary-General | Irwin LaRocque Carla Barnett |
| Preceded by | Keith Rowley |
| Succeeded by | Johnny Briceño |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 31 December 2014 |
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| Secretary-General | Irwin LaRocque |
| Preceded by | Ralph Gonsalves |
| Succeeded by | Perry Christie |
| Member of Parliament for St. John's City West |
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| Assumed office 9 March 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Halstead |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office December 2012 – June 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Lester Bird |
| Succeeded by | Baldwin Spencer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gaston Alfonso Browne
9 February 1967 Villa, Antigua |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Maria Bird
(m. 2013) |
| Education | City Banking College University of Manchester |
Gaston Alphonso Browne was born on February 9, 1967. He is a politician from Antigua and Barbuda. Since 2014, he has been the Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a banker and a businessman.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Antigua
Gaston Browne was born in the Villa area of St. John's. This was just before Antigua became an Associated State. His childhood was very challenging. As a young boy, he lived with his great-grandmother. She was elderly, partly blind, and poor. After she passed away, he grew up in Point, another area that faced poverty.
Studying Banking and Finance
After finishing high school, Browne went to City Banking College in the United Kingdom. He earned a degree in banking and finance. Later, he continued his studies at the University of Manchester. There, he completed a master's degree in finance, called an MBA.
Political Journey
Starting a Career in Banking
After college, Gaston Browne began working at the Swiss American Banking Group. This was a large banking company in Antigua and Barbuda. It included both offshore and onshore banks, plus a trust company. He worked hard and eventually became the Commercial Banking Manager.
Entering Politics
Browne started his political career in 1999. He was elected to parliament for the area of St. John's City West. In his first term, he was made a Minister. He was in charge of Planning, Trade, Industry, Commerce, and Public Service Affairs.
In November 2012, Browne challenged Lester Bird for the leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Browne won the election. In December 2012, he became the Leader of the Opposition. This meant he was the main leader of the political parties not in power.
Becoming Prime Minister
Leading the Country
Gaston Browne led the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to a big win in the general election on June 12, 2014. His party won 14 out of 17 seats. This was after being out of power for 10 years. Browne became Prime Minister on June 13, 2014. He defeated Baldwin Spencer's party, which had been in power for a decade. Browne also took on the role of Minister of Finance.
Winning More Elections
Browne successfully led his party to win a second election on March 21, 2018. He started his second term as Prime Minister the next day. On January 18, 2023, he won his third term in office. This was a special achievement for Antigua and Barbuda. His party won nine seats, while the opposition won eight.
In July 2024, a politician named Anthony Smith became an independent member of parliament. This helped strengthen Browne's government. The next day, Smith was sworn in as the new Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy. In January 2025, another election was held for the St. Peter area. Rawdon Turner from Browne's party won, further strengthening the government. Turner became the Minister of Social and Urban Transformation.
In 2024, the Caribbean Global Awards ranked Gaston Browne as 9th on their list of top 10 Caribbean Leaders.
After Hurricane Irma
On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Barbuda very hard. Gaston Browne said that the powerful storm destroyed 95% of buildings and vehicles. Many people became homeless because of the disaster. Communication systems on the island were completely destroyed for a while.
Browne described Barbuda as "literally a rubble" with no water or phone service. He confirmed there was only one death. The government worked to move nearly all 1,800 residents to Antigua for safety.
Help arrived from the US with relief supplies. Browne also talked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) about Barbuda's urgent needs. USAID sent a team to help and worked with the government.
Rebuilding Barbuda was a huge task. Experts estimated it would cost over US$100 million to fix homes and infrastructure. An official said that all important services like food, medicine, electricity, and water were gone. He added that it would take a long time to rebuild everything.
Thinking About a Republic
During a visit from the Earl and Countess of Wessex in 2022, Browne spoke about his country becoming a republic. He asked them to support the idea of reparations for slavery for Caribbean nations.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Browne announced that he would hold a vote. This vote would decide if Antigua and Barbuda should become a republic within three years. He explained that this step would complete their independence. He also said that the country would still be part of the Commonwealth, no matter the vote's outcome.
Family Life
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Gaston Browne is married to Maria Bird-Browne. She is the niece of Lester Bird, who was the second prime minister. Before this marriage, Browne had three children. He and Maria have a son named Prince Gaston Browne and a daughter born in September 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Gaston Browne para niños
- Dario Item
- Ronald Sanders
- Walton Alfonso Webson
- Antigua.news
