After weeks of disrupted access to one of Antigua’s most beloved coastal tourism destinations, the operator of Pigs Paradise Antigua has issued a public statement of gratitude to community members, government agencies, and cross-sector stakeholders following the formal restoration of public entry to Mosquito Bay’s Jolly Harbour North beach area.
Chantelle Winter, founder and owner of the popular swimming-pig attraction, emphasized that the successful resolution of the access dispute would not have been possible without widespread collective action from Antiguans across the island, who rallied together to highlight how restricted beach access was threatening local livelihoods.
In her official remarks, Winter shared: “I want to extend my sincere thanks to every single person who contributed to restoring public access to Mosquito Beach. This issue touched far more than just our operation.” Among the groups impacted by the weeks-long access block were local commercial fishermen, regular recreational beach users, and a wide network of tourism-dependent small businesses that rely on visitor traffic to the area.
Winter specifically credited the grassroots public movement—headlined by a community petition titled “We the People of Antigua and Barbuda”—with creating the momentum needed to resolve the impasse and block further restrictions on public access. The petition, organized by Winter and local supporters, called on developers Albert Hartog and Orange Limited to preserve permanent public access to the coastal area and allow Pigs Paradise to continue operating its popular tourist attraction.
Winter was clear that the dispute went far beyond the future of her small business, noting the broader ripple effects on the island’s tourism-dependent economy. She explained: “The impact stretched far beyond my team and I. It hurt tour guides, local taxi operators and their industry associations, boat service providers, street vendors, and our cruise line industry partners, all of whom depend on visitor flow to this area.”
She also extended her gratitude to Antigua’s Ministry of Tourism and other government authorities for their role in mediating the dispute and supporting the relocation of her operation to the restored access point.
In an effort to clear up widespread public misperception, Winter stressed that the fight for restored access was never rooted in political motivation. Instead, the campaign centered entirely on protecting public right of way to coastal space and safeguarding hundreds of local jobs tied to tourism in the area. “This has never been about politics. This was about protecting access, livelihoods, and ensuring the public space remains available to everybody,” she reaffirmed.
Winter also addressed separate public criticism that emerged around the attraction, pushing back firmly against unsubstantiated allegations surrounding animal welfare and visitor safety. She confirmed that Pigs Paradise maintains strict operational protocols to uphold both animal care and guest safety standards. “The well-being of our animals and the safety of our guests are of the utmost importance,” Winter said, adding that the attraction retains consistent veterinary oversight and adheres to rigorous national and international operational standards.
Looking ahead, Winter noted that Pigs Paradise remains fully committed to operating in full compliance with local regulations, continuing to drive inclusive economic growth for Antigua, and maintaining open lines of communication with all stakeholders moving forward. The original petition, which drew thousands of signatures, highlighted that the attraction is a major tourist draw for Antigua that generates critical income for a wide ecosystem of local workers, from taxi drivers and tour guides to small hoteliers and independent small business owners across the island.