Antigua PM Laments State of Some Properties In the Nation’s Capital St. John’s

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PM Browne Pushes for Greater Accountability in Property Maintenance

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for increased accountability and stricter laws to address derelict properties and improve the overall aesthetics of St. John’s. Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne noted the negative impact of neglected properties on the capital and proposed measures to address the issue.

Browne urged property owners to take responsibility for maintaining their buildings, stating, “You cannot have a beautiful country with all these opportunities, transitioning to a high-end product, and have all these old cars and derelict properties around the place. We have to live better.”

The Prime Minister described the deterioration of St. John’s as a hazard, pointing out instances where neglected buildings posed safety risks. “There are hazards with rodents, and we’ve seen vagrants burning down some of these buildings. At least three or four were set on fire last year in St. John’s,” he said.

He also suggested that property owners invest in simple improvements, such as updating facades and painting, to uplift the area. “If we have individuals who own properties in St. John’s and they need to borrow, maybe we can raise some capital and make loans available through the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank. But we cannot continue to have dirty, nasty, filthy spaces,” Browne remarked.

Acknowledging the challenge of incentivizing property maintenance, Browne indicated that penalties might be necessary. “If you’re not willing to develop your property, maybe there has to be a penalty, such as the government buying it back after a set time.”

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for a collective effort to enhance the city, saying, “We are doing better economically. Let’s live better. Let’s uplift everybody and uplift the environment.”

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1 COMMENT

  1. He a run he mouth but at our roads, Infrastructure in the main city which should be the highlight of any country. Our town looks so bad

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