In a decisive move to tackle long-standing environmental and public safety issues, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has formally approved an agreement with Atlantic Ship Breakers Antigua Limited that will see the firm remove, process, and export accumulated scrap metal across the nation, including the overcrowded, hazardous Cook’s Land site.
Maurice Merchant, the country’s Director General of Communications, confirmed the approval during a public briefing on Friday, outlining that the initiative sits at the core of the government’s broader agenda to upgrade environmental conditions, strengthen community safety, and reclaim unused, blighted lands currently choked by abandoned scrap metal and derelict debris.
A standout feature of the public-private arrangement is that the entire project will be carried out with no direct financial burden on the Antigua and Barbuda government. Per the terms of the deal, all operational responsibilities fall to Atlantic Ship Breakers Antigua Limited, which will deploy its own heavy equipment, skilled work crews, and logistical resources to complete every phase of the cleanup. This covers everything from identifying and extracting target scrap materials to on-site processing, compacting, and pre-loading for transport.
To ensure regulatory compliance and full transparency, the agreement mandates that the company maintain certified, auditable weighing systems and detailed record-keeping protocols for all materials removed. All transportation and export activities must also strictly align with local and international environmental and trade laws governing scrap metal movement.
Government officials advising the Cabinet emphasized that the cleanup project will deliver far-reaching benefits beyond just the clearing of the Cook’s Land site. By eliminating the accumulation of hazardous scrap metal that has posed risks to nearby communities for years, the initiative will boost ongoing national environmental cleanup work and materially improve living and safety conditions for residents in all affected areas.
The approved deal marks a resolution to years of public concern over the neglected Cook’s Land site, where unregulated stockpiling of scrap created fire risks, attracted pests, and degraded surrounding natural habitats. With the private firm set to begin operations in the near future, the government expects the site to be fully rehabilitated and prepared for future productive use once the project concludes.