(Antiguanewsroom)-Prime Minister Gaston Browne has estimated that around 20 thousand people in the tourism sector have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19.
“In the case of Antigua & Barbuda we have estimated that over 20 thousand people would have lost their jobs directly or indirectly as a result of the closure of the hotel sector and even the lock downs which have been taking place in order to protect our citizens,” Browne said.
He said, “those lock downs as well would have impacted on the operations of many businesses and put people out of work.”
The prime minister said revenue from tourism has cease “and in addition to that we would have a situation where the actual revenues collected by government’s would have plummeted.”
Browne was speaking on television last night ahead of a emergency CARICOM Summit today.
He said the impact of COVID-19 especially on tourism dependent economies will be much more severe than predicted.
He wants a rescue plan to be put in place to help countries within the Caribbean.