Browne, the relatively new prime minister of Antigua & Barbuda, who made headlines this year with his fiery personality and controversial moves like bashing the International Monetary Fund in August, was paid the tribute by caribjournal.com.

The Miami-based web site, which focuses on providing regional news, commentary and analysis, compiled its list of Caribbean-born notables whom it said were the year’s newsmakers, influencers and characters.

The article chronicles Browne’s triumphant rise to power after a landslide election victory in June, citing that he “hit the ground running” with myriad major investment deals and promises to make Antigua & Barbuda “an economic powerhouse” within the region.

“Whether he can pull it off or not remains to be seen,” the article said, “but Browne has been calling for bold ideas and big projects in a manner not seen in the region in recent years, and that makes him eminently interesting.”

Social commentator Koren Norton congratulated Prime Minister Browne on the accolade, which she said finally puts Antigua & Barbuda in a positive political light.

“It puts Antigua in a sort of visible light in the Caribbean and in the past, politically, we’ve been known for not-so-good things. So it’s nice that we’re noticed for positive political things.”