Antigua and Barbuda’s political representative, Hon. Jamale Pringle, has publicly refuted circulating claims that residents of Old Road deliberately blocked access by digging a trench. Appearing on the Observer AM program, Pringle provided a detailed chronology of events, attributing the excavation work entirely to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA).
The situation originated when APUA contacted Pringle regarding plans to land a new fibre optic cable at Morris Bay. In response, the MP organized a town hall meeting to inform constituents, followed by a second session where APUA officials could address specific technical concerns from the community. The trench featured in viral videos was, according to Pringle, a standard procedure excavated by APUA crews as part of these infrastructure upgrades.
Pringle vehemently denied any resident involvement in creating the trench. He clarified that following the destruction of his beach tent earlier in the week, the community’s sole request was for APUA to temporarily cover the open trench until broader issues regarding beach access were settled. Utility staff had reportedly committed to sending a backhoe to restore the road surface. Contrary to some narratives, residents reported the trench had been filled in by the following morning without incident.
Furthermore, Pringle dismissed assertions that Old Road was isolated from the rest of the island. He confirmed that vehicular access remained continuously available via an established diversion route around the local football field and, alternatively, by driving along the beachfront. The MP emphasized the importance of setting the record straight, warning that the spread of misinformation creates a false and damaging narrative of community unrest and lawlessness where none exists.