Antigua and Barbuda’s Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin has warned that the government is prepared to take tough action against negligent property owners as concerns grow over the deteriorating condition of St John’s.
Speaking on the state of the capital, Sir Steadroy said the city was in its worst condition in his lifetime, describing parts of St John’s as unsafe, unsanitary and unfit for residents and visitors.
He highlighted abandoned and poorly maintained buildings, which he said posed serious health and safety risks. Some structures, he warned, had become havens for criminal activity, while others were so unstable that people had fallen through weakened floors and pavements.
The Attorney General also raised alarm over worsening sanitation, citing reports of severe rodent infestations linked to unattended garbage and derelict properties.
Sir Steadroy said the government had already offered support to property owners, including providing paint to improve building facades, but insisted that many had failed to act. He warned that legislation could be strengthened to impose higher fines and stricter enforcement if conditions did not improve.
He also criticised business owners for leaving rubbish piled on streets, particularly on Friday evenings, and questioned why private waste collection arrangements were not being organised.
Calling for renewed civic pride, Sir Steadroy urged residents, businesses and authorities to work together to restore the capital, saying neglect was damaging the country’s image.
“This country is better than this,” he said, urging collective action to reclaim and maintain St John’s.
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The business owners can afford to pay and buy paint give the paint to the poor, market street first, let the kids at Abice school can help paint and repair the elderly houses, please visit the Spanish bars, the running down the neighborhoods, large trash pick up is needed badly once a month. Thank You For caring.
A suggestion to collaboration, where the suggesting group offers nothing but criticisms, is no collaboration at all.
A good example is the issue of garbage collection. The question shouldn’t be whether private collection is available, but why public collection is and has been insufficient.
It’s just another example of the government being caught with their pants down, and pointing the finger to the people… As is shown, they can barely keep up with their own buildings, so who are they to suggest who has enough resources to fix theirs, beyond function?
It looks like extortion, with a bow.