The Antigua government has committed to acting as a guarantor for a substantial EC$168 million loan earmarked for bolstering the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA).
This financial infusion is aimed at fortifying APUA’s distribution network and executing vital infrastructure upgrades, including the Fiber to Home initiative, re-piping projects, and sub-sea cable installations.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne initiated this move, initially approved by the Lower House in 2020. The local utilities company secured the loan through a consortium of banks, primarily led by ACB Caribbean.
Reducing costs for APUA is a priority, as previous telecom operators charged exorbitant rates, leading to high broadband costs.
The government is also in discussions with a private firm to potentially privatize water services, believing that a public-private partnership could enhance efficiency.
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is advocating for greater transparency in water management and proposes the establishment of an agency to oversee water distribution, with APUA retaining management responsibilities.”
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water privatization? Are you crazy? Every time yo privatize a public service it makes it worse for the consumers while the vultures profit from our basic needs. You will be cut off very quickly if you cant pay, costs will go through the roof, poorer areas will be poorly serviced, all the things we have seen time and again whenever this happens. The government cant provide decent water now, heaven help is once they let the vultures take over. many countries are taking basic services like electricity back into public hands because the privatized services are such garbage
Are they going to privatize the distribution of water and repairing of broken pipes? Because that’s are real problem too
I can’t imagine any sane person wanting to acquire Antigua’s decrepit pile of broken water mains. I have reason to suspect that many of the recently repaired and upgraded water mains have countless leaky joints which invisibly bleed millions of gallons from the supply daily. I would like to know how much water is supplied to all those huge cruise ships and cargo vessels that dock in Antigua? They all have the capacity to make their own water but I suspect that this government is supplying them with countless millions of gallons weekly at the expense of poor Antigua’s who routinely go without as APUA regularly shuts off the valves at the top of their street. I have seen the guy that goes around in a white APUA pickup doing this! That needs to stop ASAP.
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