A ceremonial handover of leadership took place at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council on 17th July, 2025, ushering in a new chapter for the region’s financial governance. The event, held at the Conference Centre of the American University of Antigua, saw Gaston Browne, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Antigua and Barbuda, take over the chairmanship from Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier of Anguilla.
Addressing a gathering that included finance ministers, central bankers and development partners, ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine issued a clarion call for bold, united action amid escalating global and regional challenges. He urged the region to commit to “relentless collective action at home and relentless advocacy and partnerships abroad,” with the aim of doubling the size of the ECCU economy within the next decade under what he termed the “Big Push.”
This ambitious initiative, Governor Antoine explained, will be underpinned by six strategic pillars: food and nutrition security, energy security, digital transformation, human capital development, financial wealth creation, and trade logistics and shipping. These are envisioned to support and diversify around the region’s dominant economic driver—tourism.
One of the standout themes in Governor Antoine’s remarks was the bank’s investment in youth and digital innovation. Highlighting the ECCB’s STEM Camp initiative, he noted that the central bank has committed to training 500 young people annually—between the ages of 13 and 18—in generative AI and Python over the next five years.
“This year, our summer camp started on July 14 and will run for one month,” he said, applauding Antigua and Barbuda for recording the highest registration in the currency union so far, with 124 students enrolled. “Our students will move beyond simply using generative AI to become creators, innovators, and problem solvers ready to lead the digital future of the Eastern Caribbean.”
He also acknowledged the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus for hosting its successful Second Annual International AI Research Conference in June, underscoring the importance of regional academic contributions to the digital agenda.
Beyond the numbers, the Governor’s speech was laced with urgency and poignancy. Reflecting on the region’s history of colonialism and current existential threats from climate change, he drew on the words of reggae icon Bob Marley to reinforce his message.
“Almost 200 years after the official abolition of slavery and almost 50 years since our political independence, we continue to fight for our survival,” he said. “The climate crisis poses a clear and present danger… But we can elevate our development trajectory through innovation and collective action.”
As the ECCB embarks on this new leadership cycle under Prime Minister Browne, the call to action resonates not only as a policy imperative but as a regional ethos. The Monetary Council, which comprises the finance ministers of the eight ECCU member states, is responsible for providing directives and oversight for the work of the ECCB.
The ceremony reaffirmed the ECCB’s central role in promoting monetary stability, financial resilience, and regional prosperity. Under its current agenda, the bank continues to navigate a rapidly changing economic landscape while championing inclusive development across its member territories.
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