Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for a shift in national development priorities to include greater focus on cultural, moral, and social progress, warning that economic growth alone is not enough to create a well-rounded society.

Speaking on his _Browne and Browne_ programme on Pointe FM, Browne said: “We have to go beyond the traditional aspects of governing. Before, the focus was almost exclusively on the economic aspects — providing a job, helping people to earn enough money to buy a car, a home.”

He argued that the current model overlooks deeper issues that affect the fabric of society: “I think we have to look at the governance of the country in a more holistic way… I want to know that maybe a couple decades from now, Antiguans and Barbudans are significantly brighter than we were before in terms of the quality of education — and also that we become a better cultured people.”

The Prime Minister said building morally sound citizens requires investment in soft culture, such as the performing arts, as well as spiritual and communal engagement.

“Even in terms of crime and violence — if you notice, developed countries as they evolve, they’re not as barbaric as they were centuries ago. But I don’t think we are spending enough time on the soft issues and building a better cultural society,” Browne said.

He also noted the government’s increased support for initiatives like the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE), and the upcoming Performing Arts Centre, to create platforms that foster both academic and cultural growth.

“It’s not just about our culture as we see it traditionally. Culture evolves from time to time… If we’re going to become a more creative people, then we have to engage the use of technologies like AI to ensure there’s some improvement across all aspects of our development,” he added.