Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697628795797.pdf (Antigua and Barbuda)
One Purpose, One Vision, One Nation Repositioning Antigua and Barbuda for Dynamic, Sustainable, and Resilient Growth \ A Report by the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the Economic Recovery Committee Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee August 30, 2020 Page | 1 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 6 I.
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 8 II.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT .................................................................................. 9 The Mandate of the ERC ........................................................................................................ 11 The Functions of the ERC Steering Committee .................................................................... 12 The Sub-Committees and Economic Sectors .................................................................................. 12 III.
FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH ....................................................................................... 13 Financing Growth ................................................................................................................... 15 IV: ECONOMIC RECOVERY ................................................................................................. 16 PHASE 1: Stabilization ........................................................................................................... 16 Expanding the Social Safety Net ...................................................................................................... 18 Phase 2: Repositioning the Economy for Growth ................................................................ 19 Maintaining a Healthy Population for a Healthy Economy .......................................................... 19 Improvement of public health monitoring and assessment functions using information & technology tools ................................................................................................................................. 21 Establishing linkages between the Ministry of Health and private healthcare providers .......... 21 Improvement in the public health workforce ................................................................................. 22 Strengthening access to essential services within the communities .............................................. 23 Redefining the Role of the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Sector ......................... 24 Housing and Public Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 26 Improvement to Education Infrastructure ..................................................................................... 33 Willoughby Bay – Rethinking Development for the Future ......................................................... 34 Improving the Standard of Government Office Spaces ................................................................ 36 Road Network Upgrades .................................................................................................................. 38 Water Production, Water Distribution and Water Sustainability ............................................... 40 Upgraded Sewerage Systems ............................................................................................................ 41 Building Energy Resilience .............................................................................................................. 42 Port Facilities and Services Expansion ........................................................................................... 44 The Dredge Bay Commercial and Recreational Complex ............................................................ 46 The V.C.
Bird International Airport – Expanding the Socio-economic Horizon........................ 48 Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 2 The Barbuda Codrington Airport ................................................................................................... 49 The Friar’s Hill Road Business Park .............................................................................................. 50 Regional Connectivity and Air Travel - Reviving LIAT ..................................................... 51 Diversifying the Tourism Product ......................................................................................... 53 Improving Food Security ........................................................................................................ 56 Water Sustainability and Agriculture ............................................................................................. 57 Improving the Linkages between Environment, Energy, Sustainability and Resilience .
60 Creating a Dynamic Entrepreneurial Environment ............................................................ 61 Repositioning the Economy through Continued Diversification ........................................ 62 Immigration and Residency Services .............................................................................................. 62 Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency ................................................................................................. 63 Exploring the new frontier of the Medicinal Cannabis Industry ................................................. 64 Stem Cell Research ........................................................................................................................... 64 Sports and Culture ............................................................................................................................ 65 The YIDA Special Economic Zone .................................................................................................. 66 NAMCO – Transforming Public Private Partnerships and Public Sector Investments ............ 68 The Establishment of the Five Islands Campus of the University of the West Indies ................ 69 Partnership for Stability ......................................................................................................... 70 The Role of the Public Sector during the Pandemic and beyond ....................................... 71 V. SECTOR IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ............................................................................ 72 TOURISM ................................................................................................................................ 73 HOUSING and INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................. 75 AGRICULTURE ........................................................................................................................... 76 WASTE MANAGEMENT and SUSTAINABILITY ......................................................................... 79 TRADE and ENTREPRENEURSHIP ............................................................................................. 85 CULTURAL INDUSTRIES and SPORT .......................................................................................... 86 VI.
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 87 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 88 Appendix 1 – Composition of the ERC Steering Committee .............................................. 88 Appendix 2 - Members of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee .................................... 89 Appendix 3 – Support Team for the Delivery of ERC Products ........................................ 89 Appendix 4 – Willoughby Bay Development Proposal Presentation ................................. 90 Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 3 Appendix 5 – The Barbuda Master Plan Document .......................................................... 102 Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 4 Repositioning Antigua and Barbuda for Dynamic, Sustainable, and Resilient Growth You are the future of Antigua and Barbuda and if that future is to be prosperous, if it is to be meaningful, much will depend on you.
The future calls for discipline and for dedication.

There is no ideal more noble, no task more rewarding, than to work for your own country’s development.

–– Rt.

Hon.
–– Rt.

Hon.

Dr. V. C. Bird, First Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Master of Our Own Destiny, Independence Address Antigua Recreation Grounds November 1, 1981 Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Antigua and Barbuda continues to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The impacts have been quite severe as a result of the structure and features of the extremely Tourism- dependent, small, open economy.
Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the Country experienced robust Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of an average 5.3 percent from 2015 to 2019.

With the arrival of COVID-19 cases the Country required the Government to take decisive actions including closing the borders to passenger traffic, declaring a national State of Emergency, and instituting a stay-at-home order for non-essential workers.
These actions have significantly reduced revenues and employment and have led to increasing poverty and vulnerability.

As a consequence, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) have all estimated that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will contract between 10 percent and 20 percent in 2020.
In response to the potential and deleterious effects of the pandemic on the economy, Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, moved quickly to establish an Economic Recovery Committee (ERC) to focus on identifying key treats and opportunities, and to identify areas of potential investments to stabilize and revitalize the domestic economy.
The establishment of, and participation in the Economic Recovery Committee (ERC), is a recognition by all sectors within the society, that the nation faces a major challenge it did not create but nonetheless, solve through collaborative and cooperative efforts by all, regardless of any affiliation of any kind.

This report identifies the mechanisms that are critical for growth and the policies and programs that will enhance productivity across several economic sectors.
The road to economic recovery is based on a two phased approach.
Phase one (1): stabilization by instituting several initiatives aimed at arresting the rapid consequential economic decline due to the severe worldwide shock to the sea and air transportation industry; building partnerships for stabilization through engagement with the banking sector and financial institutions to offer moratoria and special facilities to lessen the likely hardships that will result from the anticipated high levels of unemployment; and expanding the social safety net for the most vulnerable and hardest hit in the society.
Phase two (2): Repositioning the economy for growth by maintaining a healthy population for a healthy economy; by redefining the role of the Ministry of Finance and the financial sector; creating a dynamic Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 6 entrepreneurial environment; improving food security; improving the linkages between environment, energy, sustainability and resilience; establishing partnerships for stability; and defining the role of the Public Sector during the pandemic and beyond.
Report of the Technical Drafting Sub-Committee to the ERC Steering Committee Page | 7