ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has declared that university education in Antigua and Barbuda will be free of cost beginning September 2026, according to reports published by Antigua News and Antigua News Room.
Browne made the announcement during an appearance on Pointe FM, stating that after discussions with the Financial Secretary, the government decided to commence free tertiary education at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus this year, rather than waiting until after the planned expansion of the campus as originally promised.
The announcement comes just days before Antigua and Barbuda’s general elections on April 30, 2026, following the dissolution of Parliament on April 1. Browne’s pledge is expected to dominate the campaign agenda, positioning education reform as a centerpiece of his government’s vision for national development.