Paget Henry, globally renowned Antiguan scholar and Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University, has expressed strong support for what he describes as a timely and bold shift in economic thinking.

Speaking on the Big Issues, though he did not name a specific country or action—Professor Henry said the move signals a welcome pivot amid significant changes in the global, regional, and national economic landscape.

“My initial response was I thought this was a very good idea,” he stated. “We are in the midst of an unprecedented set of changes in the global economy, the regional economy, and I’m sure the national economy. This has to be a period of bold, innovative but careful thinking.”

Henry said he hopes this shift represents a move away from strict, market-driven economic policies toward a more balanced mixed economy, where public and private sectors collaborate more effectively.

“I am hoping that this particular move is part of a broader pivot… to a model where the mixed economy—where relations between the private sector and the state—are more friendly, more cooperative,” he explained.

Reflecting on the historical development of Caribbean economies, Henry noted that periods of close collaboration between the state and private actors have often coincided with the region’s most confident and optimistic moments.

“Those are the periods in which we’ve had the greatest periods of growth… where our outlook [was] positive, optimistic, and we get a lot more people willing to take risks and bring innovation and change to Caribbean economies,” he said.

Describing the recent move as both courageous and necessary, Henry concluded, “On the face of it, I applaud this move. It’s bold. It is what I think the moment calls for.”