On Thursday, a landmark milestone in bilateral community development cooperation was reached as China officially transferred ownership of the 150-unit Pelican Court housing project to the government of Antigua and Barbuda. This completion marks a major step forward in the long-planned redevelopment of the aging, overcrowded Booby Alley neighborhood in St. John’s, the nation’s capital.
Funded entirely through a $50 million grant from the Chinese government, the project replaces the community’s crumbling, overpopulated existing homes with modern, purpose-built condominiums designed to prioritize housing former residents of the Booby Alley area. Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced that pending final landscaping and utility infrastructure work, moving will start as early as January next year.
During the official handover ceremony, Browne emphasized that the redevelopment was crafted to upgrade living standards for local families while allowing them to remain rooted in their longstanding community. “We have been clear from the start: this is not a gentrification project. The people who have called this neighborhood home for generations will get priority access to the new units,” he stated.
Browne outlined that former resident homeowners will receive their new condominiums at no additional cost, valuing each unit at roughly $350,000. Other eligible occupants will be able to access the new homes through subsidized mortgages valued at approximately $150,000, with flexible repayment terms structured around individual income and ability to pay, the prime minister explained in a post-ceremony interview with local media ABS.
While the administrative allocation process for units has already commenced, Browne noted that several final preparations remain, including the installation of utility meters by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority. “Our goal is to have all former residents moved into their new homes by January,” he added.
In addition to the residential units, Pelican Court features individual on-site water storage systems for each building, a design choice intended to help residents mitigate disruptions to the public water supply that have impacted the area in the past. Project chairman Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim reflected that the redevelopment effort followed years of complex negotiations, temporary relocation planning, and unforeseen challenges — including pushback from some residents and pandemic-related construction delays caused by COVID-19.
Pilgrim extended gratitude to former residents for their patience and ongoing participation throughout the multi-year process, noting that resident welfare has remained the central focus of the project as it enters its next phase. He also called for the establishment of clear maintenance protocols, transparent community management, and respect between new neighbors.
A representative of the Chinese construction team that delivered the project pledged that ongoing technical support and maintenance services would continue to be available after the official handover. The Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda described the completed development as a commemorative gift ahead of the nation’s 45th anniversary of independence, framing it as a tangible example of people-centered bilateral cooperation that delivers tangible benefits to local communities.
Browne noted that preserving the quality of the new development will require cooperation from residents, who will be expected to follow community guidelines. He issued warnings against prohibited activities including gambling, drug trafficking, excessive noise pollution, and unauthorized waste dumping, adding that a dedicated facility manager has already been appointed to oversee daily operations. A $50 monthly condominium maintenance fee has been proposed to cover upkeep costs, he confirmed.
Looking forward, the prime minister said he expects Pelican Court to serve as a blueprint for future affordable housing developments across Antigua and Barbuda. Two additional Chinese-supported housing projects are already in the pipeline, totaling 100 new units: 50 will be built in Bolans and another 50 on the island of Barbuda, with construction set to break ground within the next 60 to 90 days. Browne also confirmed that he has submitted a request for Chinese support to build an additional 300 condominium units at Perry Bay, though formal approval for this expansion has not yet been granted.