Luke Browne is an outstanding young Vincentian politician, economist, Mathematician, Statistician and lawyer. Mr. Browne has an extraordinary history of scholarship, public service and achievement. He served as Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the period 2015-2020 and has a sterling record in government. Indeed, he led an excellent national response to the COVID-19 pandemic during his tenure and was recognised by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for Outstanding Stewardship in Health Development. He also received international recognition for his advocacy for Taiwan’s Participation in the World Health Assembly.
In his ministerial capacity, Mr. Browne modernised the health sector and spearheaded a transformation in healthcare infrastructure by opening an unprecedented number of healthcare facilities as listed below – Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre, Chateaubelair SMART Hospital, Levi Latham Health Centre, Buccament Polyclinic, Renovated Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, Lewis Punnett Home in Kingstown, Union Island Staff Quarters, the Isolation Centre at Argyle and the COVID-19 Testing Lab.
Additionally, Minister Browne started work on the Barrouallie and Mayreau SMART health facilities and either renovated, repaired or reconstructed several clinics and nursing quarters in Sion Hill, Campden Park, Sandy Bay and other parts of the country.
He also upgraded the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital by renovating the Female Surgical Ward (FSW), Paediatric Ward, Maternity Wards, Operating Theatres (one which was outfitted by the World Pediatric Project), Intensive Care Unit, Recovery Room and Kitchen.
Additionally, he introduced 24-Hr X-Ray (Radiology) and Lab Services at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, made plans to introduce 24-Hr Pharmacy Services, published a Patients Charter, launched a Health and Wellness Commission, executed a Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and placed a banned styrofoam and plastics.
Prior to taking up the position of Health Minister, Mr. Browne served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture. He assumed this position in 2013 when he was just 27 years old. Mr. Browne’s first job was as a Mathematics and Chemistry teacher at the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia (EHSM) and a Physics tutor at the SVG Community College. In the course of his career, he also worked as a Projects Officer at National Properties Limited and an Economist in the Ministry of Finance attached to the National Insurance Services (NIS) with responsibility for matters of pension reform and fiscal policy.
In 2023, Mr. Browne was named as one of JCI’s Top 20 Most Outstanding Young Persons in the World Under 40. He has the distinction of being the first ever Vincentian to receive a Rhodes Scholarship (2008) and he is also a National Scholar of SVG (2004).
Mr. Browne has an MSc. in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford which is ranked as the No. 1 University in the World. He also holds a BSc. in Mathematics and Economics from the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Graduate Diploma in Law from the BPP University Law School and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bar) also from the BPP University Law School. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn and to the Bar of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2022. He is the Managing Partner at Browne and Browne Law Chambers and practises law in areas like civil and criminal litigation, estates, property law, company law and personal injury law.
Mr. Browne is a Former Guild President at the UWI Cave Hill and a Former President of the SVG Community College Students Council. Remarkably, he was elected to the post of Guild President during his first year on Campus and is the youngest Guild President ever elected to date. He was also the first Vincentian to ever be elected Guild President at the UWI Cave Hill.
As Guild President, Mr. Browne led a successful protest march in Barbados against sexual harassment of female students on public vans which led to the establishment of a shuttle system for students that is still in operation today. Simultaneously, he generated a petition with the signatures of over 2,000 students in support of the provision of the shuttle system. Mr. Browne was known to be a strong champion of student rights and interests and his guild administration doubled the welfare provision for disadvantaged students and spearheaded several special initiatives on travel discounts for students, student safety, comprehensive health insurance for students, pharmacy services on campus and a service-learning project for literacy in a rural SVG community.
Mr. Browne is also a former National and Windward Islands Youth Cricketer at the Under 15 and Under 19 levels.
Mr. Browne has been the ULP caretaker in East Kingstown for the past 15 years since 2010 and has experience in 3 elections. He has maintained and managed a well organised constituency office and has spearheaded many special initiatives in the community, including an annual summer programme that has been in operation since 2011 which has served over 3,000 children, Christmas light up projects, CPEA lessons at primary schools, restoration of homes for disaster victims, community meetings, public lectures, provision of pro-bono legal services, provision of scholarships and school aid and the operation of a Medical and General Assistance Fund. In 2017, he published a book on Entrepreneurs of SVG. Mr. Browne helps the people of East Kingstown to get their fair share of public investment and access to public services. He is doing excellent work that is having a positive impact on many lives.
Luke Browne increased the ULP vote in East Kingstown in successive elections and is now poised to achieve a historic political victory in the constituency.
In his own words, Mr. Browne intends to “look out for the best interests of the people of East Kingstown, empower them to achieve their dreams and realise their potential and help to improve the general situation in the constituency and country.”
In his spare time, Comrade Luke likes playing or watching cricket, reading, writing, running, swimming and spending time with his family. Mr. Browne is 39 years old and has lived all his life in East Kingstown. He wants to give the people of his constituency representation of the people, by the people and for the people.
Delivering for East Kingstown
- Education – Expanded access to university through tuition scholarships,
- Economic Empowerment – Facilitated hundreds of internships, jobs and support for entrepreneurship through special initiatives like the YES Programme, the SET Programme, On-Site, and PRYME,
- Housing – Repaired homes for victims of Hurricane Beryl and other disasters,
- Roads and Footpaths – Built roads and footpaths including roads in Roseau and Long Wall,
- Sports and Community Facilities – Upgraded the Sion Hill Playing Field, and
- Healthcare – Executed programme of medical assistance and expanded access to healthcare services.
Vision for East Kingstown
- Excellence in Education – Introduction of free CPEA Lessons and free CSEC Mathematics lessons, as well as the set up of homework centres in Villages and further improve the performance of our schools and students.
- Dignity in Housing – Continue home restoration projects, provide more building material grants and launch a Home Ownership Project for Everyone (HOPE).
- Affordable Cost of Living – Provide low-income families with supermarket discount vouchers, travel cards for public transportation vehicles and pre-school payment coupons, and advocate for policies that would result in a reduction of electricity and gas station bills.
- Better Sports and Community Facilities – Upgrade existing sports and community facilities including the Roseau Recreational Park, Sion Hill Village Panyard and Hardcourt, Rockies Community Centre, Richmond Hill Playing Field, Dorsetshire Hill Playing Field and the Sion Hill Playing Field and build a Hardcourt and Community Centre in Murray’s Village, a Sion Hill Bay Park, a Children’s Club House in Cane Garden and a State-of-the-Art Music Studio in Mala Village.
- Better Roads and Footpaths – Upgrade more roads and footpaths including roads in the following areas – Dorsetshire Hill, Arnos Vale (Plan) and Bay Hill.
- Employment and Entrepreneurship – Make investments, pursue opportunities and advocate for policies that provide jobs and support entrepreneurship for the people of East Kingstown.