{"id":147359,"date":"2022-03-03T06:16:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T10:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=147359"},"modified":"2022-03-03T06:16:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T10:16:08","slug":"cabinet-notes-for-march-2-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/cabinet-notes-for-march-2-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"CABINET NOTES for March 2, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Cabinet met face-to-face, all members present.<\/p>

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1. Cabinet held a discussion on Covid-19 and the mandates and protocols that have been guiding Government\u2019s policy, since March 2020. The mandate requiring all persons entering Government buildings to provide proof of vaccination, is no longer required. All other protocols remain in place including hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks. It is Cabinet\u2019s intention to make mask-wearing optional, shortly. Cabinet encourages all those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so in order to increase their protection against any variant that may emerge and might be deadlier than the Omicron. Cabinet noted that there are no patients hospitalized with Covid and that in the past week only twenty-three (23) cases were detected.<\/p>\n

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2. The Minister of Immigration reported that the first day of the Amnesty Programme went seamlessly. The expectation is that over the next sixty (60) days\u2014or up until April 30th when amnesty ends\u2014several thousand immigrants would have regularized their status. Each immigrant must acquire a numbered form and pay $200.00 in order to gain amnesty. Other fees will follow depending on whether one has been resident in Antigua from four years to fewer than seven years, and is seeking lawful residency; anyone who has spent seven or more years and is seeking citizenship will then pay a different fee.<\/p>

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3. The Cabinet invited the APUA Water Manager to its meeting, in order to provide timelines, to answer questions about the quantum of resources required, and the current performance of various Reverse Osmosis plants.<\/p>

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The Crabbes Plant, for example, has six units; four units now produce 2.5 million gallons of potable water per day; and, when its two other units are brought back online, the Plant will be back up to 3 million gallons per day. The Cabinet was informed that the membranes used to operate RO plants grow increasingly inefficient with use. The membranes are cleaned frequently and APUA changes those parts every 3 to 5 years.<\/p>\n

The Ivan Rodriguez Plant which is at Barnacle Point produces 1.4 million gallons per day with six units; two of the units are currently being maintenanced in a staggered fashion that allows for the plant to continue to produce a significant portion of its maximum output.
\nAt Camp Blizzard, Cabinet was informed that there are four units there at the moment, and they are all functioning. Their membranes were replaced in 2018 and are about ready to have new membranes installed sometime within the next twelve months.<\/p>

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