Antigua/Barbuda Governor General: Crime influences investors

Williams made this observation as he responded to questions from secondary school students during a courtesy call on President Anthony Carmona at the Office of the President in St Ann’s. He said in Antigua and Barbuda, “There is always a constant monitoring and evaluation of the crime.” While he has no executive powers, Williams said Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the country’s police commissioner speak with him about crime.

He said law enforcement agencies in Antigua and Barbuda have been seeking to curb crime through increased intelligence, increased manpower and the provision of additional vehicles.

Williams said no country in the region has been left untouched by crime. He said, “Crime can influence the perception of your country by investors to do business.” Williams said low crime rates, political stability and good labour laws are some of the criteria which business people look at before they decide which country they invest in.

“If you are going to have a country where there is a lot of crime, it is going to keep investors away.” On the issue of jobs, he said, “It is a struggle for all of us.

We are living in a very challenging world.” Williams said while regional governments are doing what they can to create job opportunities in their respective jurisdictions, “the jobs are not coming at the pace that they should.”