Weeks following the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s historic fourth consecutive general election victory, the island nation’s administration has launched an ambitious national initiative to refresh public spaces and upgrade the country’s overall visual appeal. Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced in a recent interview on local radio outlet Pointe FM that hundreds of workers recently hired by the country’s Public Works Department will be reassigned to support this island-wide clean-up and beautification effort. Browne confirmed that the Public Works Department intentionally expanded its workforce in the months leading up to the April 30 general election, and the newly added staff will now take the lead on critical environmental maintenance and public property upkeep projects across both main islands. “Public Works have taken on a few hundred individuals in the last few months,” Browne shared during the interview. “I’ve said to them that they should be utilized to help to keep the country clean.” The national clean-up initiative is just one component of a broader government-wide infrastructure and improvement program that includes full road upgrades, targeted landscape overhauls, the demolition and removal of abandoned, derelict structures, and expanded beautification work across high-traffic public areas. Browne emphasized that the administration’s goal extends beyond basic waste and blight removal: the project seeks to intentionally enhance the natural and built environment of Antigua and Barbuda for both residents and visitors. Beyond clearing blight and cleaning public lands, the government has additional plans to expand landscaping along all major arterial roads and key public gathering spaces, including a large-scale program to plant native flowering plants and fruit trees across these sites. The announcement comes as the newly re-elected Labour Party government moves forward on pre-election pledges to upgrade national infrastructure and improve quality of life for citizens across the country. Administration officials note that the initiative will both deliver immediate visible improvements to the nation and create short-term employment opportunities for local workers, aligning with the government’s post-election priorities for inclusive growth.
Government to Use Public Works Employees in National Clean-Up Push
