PM Gaston Browne & Amb Calvin Ayre PHOTO by Ayre Group
The Ayre Group reaffirms its commitment to Antigua and Barbuda’s continued development, long after the Commonwealth has gone home.
Ambassador Calvin Ayre has congratulated Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the people of Antigua and Barbuda on hosting a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), praising the warmth, confidence and professionalism with which the smallest country ever to host CHOGM welcomed leaders and delegates from across the Commonwealth.
“Antigua and Barbuda has just shown the world that the size of a country says nothing about the size of its ambition. I have never been prouder of our islands. Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the organisers, the volunteers and everyone who welcomed our guests deserve enormous credit for making CHOGM such a success,” said Ambassador Ayre.
“But there is something even more important than hosting the world and that is what we do with the attention after it leaves. I want the legacy to be young Antiguans building companies, local people gaining better skills and good jobs, and investment that keeps giving back to this country. That is why the Ayre Group supported CHOGM, and why our work does not stop when the last delegation returns home.”
The successful staging of CHOGM 2026 represented a significant moment for Antigua and Barbuda, providing an opportunity to showcase the nation’s hospitality, organisational capabilities and potential for international investment and collaboration.
As a silver sponsor of CHOGM, the Ayre Group’s contributed to the successful delivery of the event, providing screens, audiovisual equipment and other technical support across the event. That contribution formed part of the wider effort to ensure Antigua and Barbuda delivered a world-class experience for its guests.
Beyond its sponsorship, the group participated in several initiatives throughout CHOGM, with a focus on tourism investment, youth innovation and emerging technologies, reflecting its broader commitment to the country’s long-term development.
Among these initiatives was the launch of the Ayre Think Tank and its inaugural Ayre Index, a major study examining how Commonwealth countries can better prepare young people for the opportunities created by artificial intelligence. The Index examines how well all 56 Commonwealth countries are positioned to help their young people benefit from artificial intelligence, drawing on more than 1,100 research sources.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the study identifies the potential for artificial intelligence to contribute an additional US$34 million to the country’s economy larger after ten years. It also highlights the opportunities for young Antiguans and Barbudans to benefit from the technology through better digital skills, stronger links between education and employment and greater support for young entrepreneurs.
Representatives of the Ayre Think Tank also attended a session involving The King’s Trust at Tuesday’s Commonwealth Business Forum, highlighting how digital skills can help young people across the Commonwealth find work, build businesses and participate in a fast-changing economy.
Youth development was also a focus of the Group’s involvement in the Commonwealth Youth Forum, where it contributed an innovation challenge focused on moving young people’s ideas towards practical solutions. The challenge is intended to be the beginning of a two-year partnership with the Youth Forum, with a commitment to supporting participants beyond the summit and delivering tangible results by CHOGM 2028.
The ambition is to ensure that young innovators develop their ideas into meaningful opportunities. The Group sees the partnership as an important opportunity to show that Commonwealth meetings can create benefits which are measured in action, not simply in speeches.
Tourism investment was another key area of engagement, with representatives of the Ayre Group and Nikki Beach, Patrice Jacobs and Nicholas Ferrer, participated in a Commonwealth Business Forum roundtable examining the future of Caribbean tourism with focus on Antigua and Barbuda.
The Nikki Beach development in Antigua and Barbuda was highlighted as an example of the potential for international hospitality investment to contribute to the country’s tourism offering while creating opportunities for local participation.
As Antigua and Barbuda looks beyond CHOGM Taken together, the Ayre Group remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen the country’s investment appeal, creates opportunities for its people and fosters partnerships that contribute to sustainable long-term development.
The successful hosting of CHOGM has demonstrated what Antigua and Barbuda can achieve on the international stage. The opportunity now lies in building on that success to ensure its impact continues to be felt in communities, businesses and the lives of future generations.
About the Ayre Group:
The Ayre Group brings together Calvin Ayre’s business interests and related initiatives. Its activities in Antigua and Barbuda include support for investment, hospitality, technology, education and opportunities for local communities.
Visit: www.ayre.group.com
Source: Antigua News Room Ambassador Calvin Ayre Commends Antigua and Barbuda on Successful Hosting of CHOGM 2026.