Antigua’s governing administration has announced significant advancements in national public infrastructure, marking steady progress across two core portfolios: road network upgrades and affordable housing expansion. Officials confirmed that road quality across the country has seen measurable improvement in recent months, with several key high-traffic thoroughfares already completed and open to motorists. These finished projects include the Sir George Walter Highway, Friars Hill Roadway, Sir Sidney Walling Highway, the Valley Road connecting Golden Grove to Old Road, and the Parham to Wilikies Highway, all of which have been repaired to deliver a smoother, safer driving experience. Work is currently underway on a full renewal of All Saints Road, and the government notes that upgrades are not limited to primary arteries: secondary local roads running through villages and residential communities are also being repaved as part of the broader infrastructure initiative. To fund the multi-project program, a consortium of local financial institutions has approved a $150 million advancement, which will be repaid through a small annual user fee imposed on all registered motorized vehicles in Antigua. The governing administration has publicly extended its gratitude to the senior leadership of the Ministry of Works, particularly Minister of Works the Honourable Maria Browne, the first woman to hold the position. Since assuming office, Minister Browne has overseen a workforce that has consistently delivered strong results, with the Director of Works and other senior team members providing visible, effective leadership that has motivated frontline staff to meet the high expectations of road users across the country. The administration acknowledged that the project faced temporary supply chain disruptions, specifically a widespread cement shortage that slowed progress at multiple sites. However, officials confirmed that the ongoing dredging of the shipping channel leading to cement storage silos at Crabbes is nearing completion, which will resolve the supply issue and remove the barrier to ongoing construction work. Beyond her track record delivering on infrastructure projects, Minister Browne has been praised by the government for her personal leadership qualities: she brings consistent energy, proven competence, unwavering determination, and a solutions-focused mindset to every assigned responsibility, and holds high regard across the governing administration. Joining the Ministry of Works leadership team is newly re-assigned Minister of State the Honourable Shenella Govia. A youthful senator who also serves as Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Govia is described as bringing abundant energy and enthusiasm to her new role, and the government expects her contributions will strengthen the ministry’s capacity to deliver on the administration’s ambitious infrastructure targets. Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the statement also highlighted the government’s signature “housing revolution,” a cornerstone initiative that has defined the administration’s 12 years in office. To date, two government agencies—the National Housing and Urban Development Company and the Central Housing and Public Authority (CHAPA)—have completed construction of more than 2,000 new affordable homes across Antigua. Private sector contractors have also made significant additional contributions to expanding the national housing stock over the same period. While the government has made substantial progress in meeting existing demand for new housing, officials noted a unique side effect of that success: the high delivery rate has spurred even greater public demand for additional housing units. The administration commended the minister responsible for housing for the progress achieved to date, and confirmed that new construction projects are already planned to roll out in the coming months to meet rising demand.
Sir Rodney Says Road and Housing Projects Continued Despite Cement Shortages
