South-South Partnerships

The distribution of power in the global context has shifted since the beginning of the 21st century. In 2001 it was predicted that by 2050 the fast growing economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) would overtake the combined economies of the ten richest countries in the world.

During its first term, the UPP Administration solidified the country’s pre-existing diplomatic relations with three of the four BRIC countries as Prime Minister Spencer personally visited Brazil, India and China and held intense discussions geared to advancing specific areas of collaboration. Tangible evidence of the success of UPP’s international diplomacy includes:

Brazil

• Establishment of a Consular office is São Paulo, the commercial capital of Brazil
• Brazilian firm Andrade Gutierrez retained to complete the refurbishment and expansion work at VC Bird International Airport
• Donation of an anesthesia machine to the Adelin Medical Centre by a Brazilian
  investor
• Donation of a computer lab to the Boys Training School by a Brazilian investor
• Decision by President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva to establish a Brazilian embassy in St. John’s in 2009

India

• Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh committed to send technicians from the Ministries of Health and Education to visit schools and health institutions in Antigua & Barbuda with a view to providing assistance
• Technical assistance for the establishment of Antigua and Barbuda’s Community Access Centres
• Agreement to carry out a feasibility study on a National Sewage Plan
• Agreement to provide assistance to the Defence Force
• Expansion of relations between the American University of Antigua School of Medicine and Manipal University in India; Antiguans and Barbudans now have access to 12 scholarships each year
• Commitment by India to provide assistance for the establishment of a Forensic Laboratory
• Commitment by India to provide training for the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force officers at India’s National Police Academy
• Five scholarships per year for five years commencing September 2007
• Training in Network and JAVA studies in India for three young nationals from our IT Centre.

China

• Grant funding for the stadium at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds
• Sponsorship of the government’s street lighting project programme
• Scholarships
• Assistance with the completion of Mount St. John Medical Centre
• Covering of Gray’s Hill Reservoir
• Renovation of the Gray’s Green Gutter
• Construction of a Community Centre in Barbuda
• Financing for the new airport terminal
• Financing for the renovation of the St. John’s Deep Water Harbour

In addition to these tremendous accomplishments, Prime Minister Spencer’s leadership received international acclaim when he was elected Chairman of the G77 & China, making Antigua and Barbuda only the third Caribbean country to hold that distinguished office. This accomplishment is tangible evidence that the leadership of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer transcends national and regional boundaries. The measure of Prime Minister Spencer’s leadership qualities include his:

• tried and proven ability to exert positive influence
• demonstrated ability to promote the harmonious resolution of conflict
• personal integrity that is above reproach
• unwavering commitment to the rule of law
• dedicated service to championing the rights of the disadvantaged.