On a recent inspection visit to the ongoing Booby Alley Housing Project in Antigua and Barbuda’s Point community, Prime Minister Gaston Browne joined Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda Jiang Wei and other Chinese government delegation members to review construction work that is steadily advancing toward its scheduled completion later this year.
During the tour, Browne shared glowing feedback on both the speed of construction and the high standard of work being delivered. He framed the initiative as far more than a residential development, calling it a life-changing intervention for the entire local community. “I am very pleased with the progress made so far,” the Prime Minister stated, noting that the project goes beyond building new walls and roofs—it creates a path to restored dignity and expanded economic opportunity for every resident impacted.
Browne particularly highlighted the critical role of bilateral partnership with China, emphasizing the Chinese government’s transformative contribution to making the project possible. He argued that the development stands as a gold-standard example of productive international cooperation, delivering tangible, measurable improvements to citizens’ daily lives while breathing new life into one of Antigua and Barbuda’s oldest, most historically significant communities.
Ambassador Jiang echoed Browne’s positive assessment of the project’s progress. She applauded the close, coordinated collaboration between the two nations and recognized the relentless on-the-ground work of construction teams that have kept the project on schedule. Jiang also reaffirmed China’s longstanding commitment to supporting sustainable, people-centered development across Antigua and Barbuda, noting that the housing project is a tangible reflection of the deep, lasting friendship binding the two countries and peoples.
Funded through a substantial grant from the Chinese government, the Booby Alley development is a cornerstone of the Antigua and Barbuda government’s national urban renewal strategy. When complete, it will deliver 150 modern, condominium-style housing units engineered to withstand extreme climate events, alongside upgraded public infrastructure that will serve the entire community. The project is specifically designed to replace the aging, substandard and informal housing structures that previously stood in the Booby Alley area, where many longstanding local residents lived in precarious conditions.
Priority for the new units is given to existing Point community residents who occupied the original Booby Alley neighborhood. The government’s formal plan prioritizes relocating and regularizing housing status for these long-term residents, granting them access to safe, climate-resilient modern homes that meet contemporary living standards. Any remaining units after existing residents are accommodated will be offered through a structured rent-to-own ownership framework, expanding access to affordable quality housing for additional community members.
As the inspection tour concluded, both Browne and Jiang reaffirmed their shared commitment to seeing the project through to successful completion, with the shared goal of delivering long-term, sustainable positive change for all residents of the Point community. With construction on track, the full development is on schedule to open to residents by the end of 2024.