Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that a China-funded affordable housing development constructed on the former Booby Alley site is progressing smoothly toward its targeted completion, with full handover scheduled for October this year to mark the country’s Independence celebration.
The announcement was made during an on-site inspection conducted by Browne alongside a visiting Chinese government delegation, which provided an up-to-date overview of the project’s construction milestones. The comprehensive development consists of nine multi-story residential buildings containing a total of 150 modern condominium units. As of the latest assessment, all exterior painting and interior tiling work has been finalized, while the installation of windows and entry doors is approximately 90 percent complete.
Project management officials outlined the timeline for remaining tasks: all outstanding interior construction work is projected to wrap up by June, while site-wide exterior improvements and the construction of a dedicated on-site sewage treatment facility are expected to be finished by August. Browne noted that the Antiguan and Barbudan government has requested a series of targeted adjustments to the project plans prior to the official handover, ranging from establishing a standardized propane gas supply system for all units to adding centralized shared waste management infrastructure. The government also plans to acquire an adjacent plot of land to build a multi-million-gallon water storage tank, which will bolster the community’s long-term water security.
Landscaping work across the development is set to commence by the end of June, with a planting plan that includes native flowering plants and a variety of fruit trees. This green initiative is integrated into the country’s broader national food security strategy, which aims to increase local food production and expand accessible green spaces for residents.
During the interaction with the Chinese delegation, Prime Minister Browne extended warm regards to President Xi Jinping of China. He also revealed that he has scheduled an official visit to China in early 2025, a trip designed to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen the long-standing friendly ties between the two nations.
Browne emphasized that the housing project represents a landmark effort to drive social transformation in Antigua and Barbuda. The initiative replaces overcrowded, substandard informal housing that previously occupied the Booby Alley site with high-quality, safe modern condominiums, exclusively designated for low-income households that have struggled to access affordable formal housing.