Supporting The Public Sector of Antigua and Barbuda

Education

Public spending on education was 3 per cent of GDP in 2009. Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of five and 16 years, with an education levy imposed on all basic wages in the country to fund schools. The government administers the majority of schools. There are 24 private and 30 government primary schools. There is a shortage of government-owned secondary schools, resulting in many students being unable to continue their education as they cannot afford the fees of private secondary schools. The Right to Education Project has found that ‘economic migrants’ must purchase education for their children at private institutions. In 2011, 52.2 per cent of primary and 19.5 per cent of secondary school students were enrolled in private institutions.

Antigua State College in St John’s provides technical and teacher education, A-levels and first-year University of the West Indies courses. Antigua and Barbuda is a partner in the regional University of the West Indies, which has its main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The female-male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 2.00:1 (2011).

Health

Public spending on health was four per cent of GDP in 2012. The country has a general hospital (220 beds), a private clinic, seven health centres and 17 associated clinics. Infant mortality was eight per 1,000 live births in 2013.

The Ministry of Health recently established a Public and Private Sector Health Task Force that seeks to improve the relationship between the sectors through frequent dialogue and discussions. It is envisaged that this will lead to improved collaboration on patient referrals, information and data sharing and shared services.

Transport

There are approximately 1,170 km of roads in Antigua and Barbuda, 33 per cent of which are paved. Several privately owned bus companies and buses run on the islands. There is a 77 km-long narrow-gauge rail network, which is used extensively by both the general public and for freight. Antigua and Barbuda’s main seaport is St John’s deep-water harbour, a major transportation hub for the Caribbean. Air traffic is mostly covered by VC Bird International Airport, while an additional light aviation airstrip is available at Codrington, Barbuda. Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) is a successful Antigua and Barbudan airline. LIAT is owned through shares, in part by several Caribbean governments, as well as private shareholders and employees