ANTIGUA BARBUDA TODAY (Monday December 18th 2023)

ABS EVENING NEWS (LOCAL SEGMENT & WEATHER REPORT) 17.12.2023

THE BUDGET SPEECH 2024 (FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2023)

Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has used his budget presentation to confirm a looming increase in payments to pensioners. Public sector workers are to receive an increase in wages and salaries, and LIAT employees are to receive a payment for Christmas.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has announced measures to shore up the country’s revenues and ensure the Government can sustainably fund its obligations. Jamie J. Roacher reports.

United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Linda Taglialatela says a decision on where the two new US embassies will be located in the Eastern Caribbean is at least 18 months away. The veteran diplomat spoke with ABS News after celebrating the 247th anniversary of the US’ independence at Jumby Bay Resort.

Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has hailed the country’s relationship with the United States, as he spoke during a function at Jumby Bay Resort on Wednesday to celebrate the US’ 247th anniversary of independence. The head of government also used the occasion to restate his hope Antigua and Barbuda will be the location of one of the two new embassies the US will establish in the Eastern Caribbean.

APUA says it is getting closer to providing all of its customers with a constant supply of water. The update was provided during a press conference following a tour of the Fort James reverse osmosis plant, where a second unit has been commissioned to double daily output to a million gallons Jamie J. Roacher reports.

Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston Browne has again called for meaningful action from the developed world to aid Small Island Developing States, SIDS. He made the call as he delivered the keynote address via virtual means at a United Nations roundtable on SIDS on Tuesday. Garfield Burford reports.

Antiguans and Barbudans are availing themselves of a fresh opportunity to gain employment on Royal Caribbean cruise vessels. A team from Royal Caribbean is on-island interviewing potential candidates during a two-day job fair at John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre. Raghib Apparicio reports.