18-594: Gaston Alfonso 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. Browne was born on 9 February 1967, days before the Associated State of Antigua was established, in the Villa area of St. John's . His life as a teenager was extremely tough. As
36-834: A child, he lived in Point with his paternal great-grandmother, who was in her eighties at the time, partially blind, poor and aging. After her death he grew up in Point, another impoverished area. After completing his secondary education, Browne attended the City Banking College in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a BSc in banking and finance. Later, he attended the University of Manchester , acquiring an MBA in Finance. Following graduation, Browne secured
54-543: A member of the Commonwealth regardless of the outcome. 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, and a daughter born in September 2020. Served as Chief Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda
72-643: A position with the Swiss American Banking Group, a major banking consortium in Antigua and Barbuda that comprises 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
90-465: A republic. Following the death of the Queen , Browne announced that he would call for a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years, saying "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 that the country would remain
108-598: 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
126-552: 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." 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 that his country would become
144-647: Is the head of government of the Antigua and Barbuda . The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda is appointed by the Governor-General under the terms of the Constitution. The executive branch of government is established in section 68 of the constitution, and it is vested in the monarch. The prime minister is appointed by the Governor-General. The prime minister must either be a member of
162-954: 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. Philmore Mullin, Director of Antigua and Barbuda's National Office of Disaster Services, said that "all critical infrastructure and utilities are non-existent – food supply, medicine, shelter, electricity, water, communications, waste management", adding "Public utilities need to be rebuilt in their entirety ... It
180-601: The Governor-General on appointments to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda . [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from documents of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda . Served as Chief Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
198-451: The Governor-General revokes his authority. The Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda regulates that the prime minister must be a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader in the House of the political party that has the support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives. If there is no party that has an undisputed leader, or no party that maintains the support of
SECTION 10
#1732772743889216-414: The House and the leader of the political party with the support of the majority of the House's members; or the member of the House who, in the opinion of the Governor-General, is most likely to command the support of the majority of members of the House, if it appears to him that such party does not have an indisputable leader in the House or that no party commands the support of such a majority. Additionally,
234-529: The Prime Minister fails to resign from office or advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament within seven days of the resolution's passage. If parliament is dissolved, and a prime minister must be appointed, a person who was a member of the House immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as Prime Minister or any other Minister, and a person who was a member of the Senate immediately before
252-515: The dissolution may be appointed as any Minister other than Prime Minister. The Governor-General may authorize another member of the Cabinet to perform those functions (other than the functions conferred by section 74(2) of the constitution) when the Prime Minister is not present in Antigua and Barbuda or is unable to do so due to illness or because of the restrictions of section 73(4) of this Constitution. That member may perform those functions until
270-626: 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. Gaston Browne led the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to victory in the 12 June 2014 general election , after 10 years in opposition, winning 14 out of 17 seats. Browne was sworn in as prime minister on 13 June 2014. He defeated Baldwin Spencer's UPP , which had ruled for 10 years. Browne also held
288-456: The majority of the House of Representatives, the Governor-General may appoint a member that is most likely to maintain the support of the majority of the members, and who is willing to hold the role of prime minister. If a prime minister must be appointed while Parliament is dissolved, then, a person who was a member of the House of Representatives immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as prime minister. The prime minister advises
306-535: The nominee ought to be open to serving as prime minister. Only the Prime Minister or, in his absence, the Minister the Prime Minister appoints in that regard, may call the Cabinet to order. Under section 73 of the constitution, the Governor General must revoke the appointment of the Prime Minister in the event that the House passes a resolution declaring its lack of confidence in the Prime Minister and
324-534: The office of Minister of Finance . 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
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