Gaston Alphonso Browne is the fourth Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda having been elected to office by an overwhelming majority in the July 12, 2014, general elections when his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won fourteen (14) of the seventeen (17) parliamentary seats.
Prime Minister Browne has been a Member of Parliament since 1999, representing the constituency of St. John’s City West. He was elected leader of the new Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party in November 2012. In previous Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Administrations, he has served as Minister of Planning and Trade.
Upon his election to Office, Prime Minister Browne assumed the position of Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and has served on the quasi-cabinet of CARICOM in the areas of cricket and aviation.
He is a graduate of the University of Manchester, United Kingdom with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), majoring in Banking and Finance.
Preceding his political career, Prime Minister Browne served as a banker for 13 years, five of which as a senior bank manager with the Swiss-American International Banking Group, managing in excess of US$400 million dollars in assets. Gaston Browne was also a director of several private sector entities including Caribbean airline LIAT (1974) Ltd. and has been involved in real estate development and management.
Gaston Browne is well known for his philanthropic work which is seen through his contributions to the empowerment of the people of the Point and Villa areas within his Constituency. He has championed the construction of a Fishery Development Centre, a sporting and entertainment facility, an Information Communication Technology Centre, and an affordable housing scheme.
In 2014, Prime Minister Browne was awarded the Honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George for his humanitarian work.
Prime Minister Browne is married to Maria Bird-Browne and is the father of three sons and one daughter. He has a special interest in soccer, cricket and yachting.