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The Home Assistance Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) has achieved a significant milestone with the arrival of its largest-ever construction materials shipment, marking a pivotal moment in the program’s expansion efforts. This substantial delivery, comprising eleven truckloads of lumber and galvanized materials, enables the initiative to dramatically scale its operations from individual projects to simultaneously constructing five homes.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne characterized this delivery as “the single largest amount of building material to be imported in the country at any given point,” emphasizing that this represents merely the beginning of ongoing annual procurement efforts. The massive shipment arrives as HAPI transitions from its original repair-focused model to including complete new home construction for structures deemed beyond rehabilitation.

Programme Coordinator Inspector Veldon Raggette revealed that 111 homes have been completed since the program’s inception, with three currently underway. The selection process prioritizes need rather than application order, with households containing more children receiving accelerated consideration. “It goes by priority,” Raggette explained. “The more children involved, the quicker HAPI gets activated.”

A distinctive aspect of the program involves its workforce composition, which primarily consists of inmates from His Majesty’s Prison working alongside volunteers. Raggette described this collaboration as “two second chances” – providing prisoners with skill development opportunities while simultaneously offering vulnerable families improved living conditions.

Beyond physical construction, HAPI incorporates comprehensive social support through partnership with the Social Protection Board. Raggette emphasized the importance of counseling services, noting that without proper support, “it’s just a new building to be destroyed in two, three years.”

The program requires applicants to either own their property or provide notarized permission from landowners. Constructed homes meet reinforced structural standards designed to withstand hurricane conditions, with Raggette asserting they build “the strongest wooden house in Antigua and Barbuda” through bolting, strapping, and clipping techniques.

With identified needs across communities including Five Islands, Grays Farm and Villa, HAPI continues its expansion with Raggette affirming: “HAPI is here to stay.” Families living in unsafe conditions are encouraged to apply through the Social Protection Board.

Antigua and Barbuda has embarked on a transformative agricultural initiative with the inaugural convening of its Clean Seed Sweet Potato Committee this week. This landmark assembly represents a critical advancement for the nation’s root crop industry, operating under the regional Next Generation Sweet Potato Project framework.

The newly formed committee brings together a coalition of technical experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, private sector representatives, and specialists from the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI). Their primary mission is to establish a comprehensive clean seed system that will guarantee local farmers reliable access to certified disease-free planting materials. This foundational work is projected to significantly increase agricultural productivity, bolster national food security measures, and enhance climate resilience within the farming sector.

During the inaugural session, committee members meticulously defined project objectives, delineated organizational responsibilities, and formulated strategic approaches for expanding domestic clean seed production capabilities. The nation has already assembled a diverse genetic portfolio comprising six distinct sweet potato varieties—Black Rock, Hurricane, King Crown, Mandela, Catch Me, and Big Red. These specimens will undergo advanced tissue culture processing through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure complete pathogen elimination.

The committee has established a framework for regular meetings to monitor implementation progress, coordinate specialized training programs, and facilitate knowledge exchange among stakeholders. This ongoing oversight mechanism ensures that project benefits will effectively reach agricultural producers and communities across the nation.

This four-year regional initiative is implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with substantial funding from multiple international partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the European Union. The project simultaneously operates in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and St. Lucia, representing a coordinated effort to modernize root crop agriculture and establish sustainable food systems throughout the Caribbean region.