Prime Minister Gaston Browne says all parliamentarians in Antigua and Barbuda should be eligible for government-funded scholarships, arguing that formal training is essential for modern leadership.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne Show, Browne said lawmakers in both houses should be supported in pursuing advanced studies if they wish.
“I feel as though our government should give scholarships to all parliamentarians,” Browne said. “Any parliamentarian, upper or lower house, who is desirous of getting a scholarship, the government should fund it.”
He explained that the proposal was not aimed at embarrassing members without degrees, but at raising the standard of governance across the board. “Globally, people are trained to govern. They’re trained to lead. And there’s a direct correlation between your training and your capacity to lead,” he said. “Even if you’re naturally bright, when you have that additional training, it increases your capacity.”
Browne noted that while past generations of leaders often rose to power with limited formal qualifications, today’s challenges required more specialized knowledge. He said the scholarships could help parliamentarians develop expertise in fields such as economics, law, and public administration.
The proposal comes as Antigua and Barbuda continues to expand opportunities in higher education, including the launch of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) and the rapid growth of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.
