A short-lived industrial protest staged by heavy-duty truck drivers of Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Works drew to a close on Tuesday, with all participating workers resuming their duties just hours after they blocked entry to the ministry’s headquarters to demand resolution for unpaid outstanding payments.
The demonstration, which unfolded early Tuesday morning, saw government-owned heavy trucks block the main entrance to the ministry’s Denry Lane compound, temporarily cutting off access for other staff and visitors. The action, organized by drivers over unresolved delayed payment issues, did not last long: workers agreed to enter talks with senior ministry leadership shortly after establishing the blockade, and reached a mutually acceptable resolution within the same morning.
Following the closed-door meeting, ministry management confirmed that all concerns raised by the protesting drivers had been formally noted, and gave formal assurances that the outstanding payment issues are already being actively processed and resolved. The industrial action wrapped up quickly, with drivers vacating the entrance and returning to their work assignments. Normal daily operations at the Denry Lane compound have since been fully restored.
In an official public statement released after the protest ended, the Ministry of Works expressed gratitude to its driving staff for their ongoing commitment to advancing the country’s national infrastructure development agenda. The statement also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting all its employees as it carries out large-scale infrastructure projects across both Antigua and Barbuda.