Facing a long-running problem of unpaid maintenance charges for public housing infrastructure, the government of Antigua and Barbuda is advancing a new policy proposal that would link mandatory upkeep fees directly to residents’ monthly utility bills. This solution is being crafted to address consistent nonpayment that has left critical shared systems, from communal sewer lines to public facility grounds, under-maintained across existing government housing developments.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne outlined the plan during an appearance on the local Browne and Browne Show, explaining that the idea emerged during discussions about management protocols for the upcoming 150-unit Pelican Court housing project, one of the nation’s largest new public housing developments in recent years. Browne noted that while the government has already established homeowners’ associations to handle maintenance coordination at many existing public housing sites, voluntary and inconsistent fee payments have derailed these efforts. In developments that rely on shared sewage infrastructure, the lack of consistent funding has created serious challenges for keeping the critical system operational and well-maintained.
“For some reason, the individuals would not pay the homeowners’ fee, the management fee, to maintain the sewage system,” Browne told listeners. To resolve this gap, the administration is exploring integrating the small monthly maintenance charge — which Browne suggested could start as low as $20 per month — into existing utility billing cycles. This structural change would create a far more reliable collection system for authorities, ensuring a steady stream of funding allocated exclusively to ongoing infrastructure upkeep.
For the new Pelican Court development, the government is putting in place additional permanent management structures, including on-site property managers and a dedicated administrative office to handle resident needs and maintenance coordination. Officials are also drafting formal rules outlining clear resident responsibilities for garbage disposal, individual property maintenance, and other communal living standards. At this stage, Browne has not released details on a potential timeline for implementing the utility-linked fee policy, nor has he confirmed whether the change would apply exclusively to Pelican Court or be rolled out to all public housing developments across Antigua and Barbuda.