CABINET NOTES: Wednesday 11th February 2026

REPORT FROM THE CABINET OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
MEETING OF WEDNESDAY 11^th FEBRUARY 2026

The prayers before Cabinet were led by a Pastor from the Seventh Day Adventist Church who focused his meditation on Proverbs 14:34 and Revelations 13: 15-17

Proverbs 14:34 reminds us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” This wisdom teaches that the strength and dignity of a people are not rooted in power, wealth, or influence, but in their commitment to what is right. When individuals and communities pursue justice, mercy, and humility before God, they build a foundation that cannot easily be shaken.

Revelation 12:15–17 presents a vivid image of the serpent attempting to overwhelm the faithful with a flood, symbolizing forces that seek to destroy truth and righteousness. Yet the earth helps the woman, and the dragon, frustrated, turns its anger toward those who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This passage reminds believers that opposition often arises when righteousness is pursued, but it also assures that God provides protection, endurance, and ultimate victory.

The Pastor said that Together, these passages invite us to reflect on our calling to live righteously even in times of pressure or spiritual opposition. When righteousness shapes our choices, we become part of God’s sustaining work in the world. Though challenges may come like a flood, faithfulness anchors us. He stated that God honors those who stand firm in truth, and through their witness, His justice and glory are revealed.  He prayed that members of Cabinet, in their decision making will do so in the context that Antigua and Barbuda is not a singular unit but a part of a global community and therefore decisions must be made with this in mind.  He prayed thanking God for Life and a brand new day and the anointing of the minds of members to think globally to the benefit of Antigua and Barbuda.

Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne who commenced Wednesday’s session by providing a report on discussions held with investors and international partners on proposed projects, Antigua and Barbuda’s economic performance and Geo-Political issues.  The first discussions centred on Cabinet advancing an inclusive growth strategy for entertainment, Leisure and Local economic participation.

1. The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday took decisive action to expand local participation in the nation’s thriving economy during a period of sustained growth and forward-looking development.

Over the past eleven years under the leadership of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda has transitioned from a fragile post-crisis economy to one of the region’s most resilient and dynamic. After experiencing an era of low growth and elevated public debt a decade ago, the Government has delivered consistent economic expansion, stronger fiscal performance, and diversified activity across tourism, construction, financial services, and other key sectors. Recent estimates show robust GDP growth in 2025 and a projected expansion of around 5 percent in 2026, positioning Antigua and Barbuda’s economy close to a $7 billion output for the first time in history. The Cabinet says this reflects disciplined economic management, strategic investment, rising employment, and expanding economic activity.

Cabinet Members, recognising the importance of ensuring that local Antiguans and Barbudans have meaningful access to opportunities in the entertainment, leisure, and broader travel economy, agreed on a suite of policy measures designed to transform enclave industries into inclusive engines of prosperity for the nation’s citizens.

Key policy decisions agreed by Cabinet include:

1. Establishment of a Certificate Programme by the Ministry of Tourism
   • To legitimise and strengthen the participation of local businesses in the tourism, entertainment and leisure sectors.
2. Introduction of a Licensing Regime for Real Estate Agents and Property Managers
   • To protect consumers, raise industry standards, and support professionalisation of the real estate sector.
3. Incentives for Local Leisure and Entertainment Businesses
   • To enhance competitiveness, stimulate investment, and support the growth of local entrepreneurs in these dynamic sectors.
4. Waivers of Duties and Taxes on Capital Equipment for Boat Tours and Water Sports Operators
   • To reduce barriers to entry and modernise local offerings in water-based tourism activities.

In alignment with strategic efforts to deepen local engagement and ownership in high-value tourism assets, Cabinet agreed to support the Shell Beach project for local Airbnb-style investment properties by allocating:

• 50 acres at Willoby Bay, and
• 15 acres at Royalton

…for Antiguans and Barbudans to purchase and develop income-generating tourist accommodations.

Following the ongoing renovation of the Heritage Hotel, additional condominium units will be made available for local purchase, further enabling citizens to participate in and benefit from the tourism accommodation boom.

Responding to public concerns over foreign labour participation, Cabinet also agreed to centralise and strengthen the oversight of work permit approvals. Going forward, the Minister responsible will be assisted directly by Cabinet in the review and approval of work permits to ensure that jobs created by economic expansion prioritise qualified national workers.

These measures reflect a clear national agenda: ensuring that the unprecedented growth experienced over the past decade translates into broad-based opportunity and prosperity for local people, while preserving the competitive edge of Antigua and Barbuda in the global tourism and leisure economy.

• Cabinet received a report from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority as it advances a major water infrastructure modernization and expansion programme.

General Manager Mr. John Bradshaw told Cabinet that the Authority continues to advance a comprehensive national water infrastructure modernization and expansion programme aimed at ensuring a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply for residents, businesses, and the tourism sector.

He said that ensuring a resilient and efficient water distribution system remains a primary mandate of APUA. The Authority has identified that the existing distribution network in St. John’s City is aging and largely comprised of cast iron pipelines that have deteriorated over time, resulting in reduced carrying capacity and challenges in maintaining consistent service delivery. To address these concerns while minimizing disruption to urban activities, APUA is implementing the replacement programme in strategic phases.

St. John’s City Pipeline Replacement – Phase 1

Phase 1 of the replacement project targets the high-density corridor between Independence Avenue and Market Street, extending east to west to the sea, and bounded north to south by New Gate Street and Nevis Street. All internal streets and lanes within this area are included in the upgrade schedule.

The new distribution system will be gravity-fed from the Grays Hill Tank, with additional redundancies integrated to ensure system reliability. The project includes the replacement of outdated cast iron pipes with High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines, selected for their superior durability, enhanced hydraulic efficiency, and long-term reliability. The installation incorporates 14-inch, 12-inch, and 6-inch diameter pipes supported by internationally certified hardware, including AVK gate valves and stainless-steel backup rings.

The works are divided into nine sections to reduce traffic and commercial disruptions. Construction involves extensive civil works, including excavation estimated at approximately 60 percent rock and 40 percent soil, manual ditch grading, pipe bedding, haunching, backfilling, and full asphalt restoration of affected roadways.

SCADA Modernization Initiative

Mr. Bradshaw told the Cabinet that APUA continues to strengthen operational monitoring through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, which currently provide live operational dashboards, historical data analysis, real-time tank monitoring, pressure and flow visibility, and early detection of system abnormalities.

CTL has submitted a proposal for an advanced, island-wide SCADA network. The proposed system will include redundant servers at APUA Headquarters, secure cellular communications, automation of booster pump stations, and monitoring across 25 critical tank sites. The system will significantly improve leak detection, reduce water loss, and enhance overall system reliability while providing comprehensive training for APUA personnel.

Grays Hill / Five Islands Expansion Project

APUA is also progressing strategic infrastructure expansion to support population growth and development in the Five Islands area, including the continued expansion of the UWI Five Islands Campus. Population projections indicate growth from 84,816 in 2011 to approximately 125,219 by 2050.

Infrastructure improvements will support Green Bay, Cooks Hill, Denfields, Yepton, and Five Islands Village. The project includes the construction of a new Cooks Hill Tank, specialized pump stations, and two major transmission pipelines connecting Grays Hill, Cooks Hill, and Five Islands. Engineering designs meet American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards and support peak daily flow demands of approximately 1.25 million gallons.

Barnes Hill / Coolidge Sump Rehabilitation

Technical assessments at the Barnes Hill Coolidge Sump identified minor structural deterioration, including mortar render spalling and water intrusion. Immediate stabilization works have been completed, and corrective repairs are currently underway. Project completion is scheduled for February 20, 2026, subject to favorable site conditions, with ongoing monitoring to ensure long-term structural reliability.

Wink Eye and New Winthropes Water Storage Facilities

APUA is constructing two reinforced concrete storage tanks at Wink Eye and New Winthropes at an estimated cost of EC$2 million. These facilities will provide critical storage capacity and pressure stabilization for growing residential and commercial areas. The tanks will store water produced by the Seven Seas SWRO Plant at Barnacle Point, supporting communities including Hodges Bay, Cedar Valley, Crosbies, Blue Waters, and the V.C. Bird International Airport.

Upcoming Water Infrastructure Projects

APUA continues to advance several additional infrastructure initiatives, including:

• Installation of a Pump Station at Liberta Church of Christ
• Upgrades at Clarks Hill, Renfrew, Montrula, Olivers, and Law Pasture
• Continued improvements within St. John’s City
• Pipeline installation from the Grays Hill Reservoir to the Cooks Hill Tank
• Denfields Extension
• Pipeline installation from the Cooks Hill Roundabout to the Five Islands Roundabout

John Bradshaw told the Cabinet that APUA remains committed to strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s water infrastructure to support national development, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life for all residents.

Editors Note

Exploring Trenchless Installation Technology

APUA is also evaluating innovative installation alternatives proposed by Trinweld, including the introduction of a national trenchless programme utilizing Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). This technology allows HDPE pipelines to be installed with minimal surface disruption, making it particularly suitable for Antigua’s limestone and volcanic rock terrain and narrow urban roadways.

The HDD method is projected to accelerate project delivery by approximately 50 percent per kilometre and reduce direct construction costs by 37 percent. The approach also offers estimated road restoration savings and long-term lifecycle savings between US$6 million and US$9 million. Additionally, the programme is expected to reduce non-revenue water losses by 15 to 20 percent, potentially recovering over US$1.2 million annually. Trinweld also proposes the establishment of a Trenchless Technology Unit to support local workforce training and technology transfer.

Control Technologies Limited (CTL) 

• Cabinet on Wednesday received a comprehensive technical and procurement update from project technicians, consultants, and management teams overseeing the expansion of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus and the construction of the Five Islands Primary School.

Five Islands Primary School – Design and Technical Progress

The technical team advised that amendments were made to the project’s structural and foundation designs to incorporate the results of a completed geotechnical study. In response, and with the approval of the client, the contractor was granted permission to explore a cost-effective containment and structural solution.

A steel frame structural option was proposed and is presently under review. The Ministry of Works has completed its assessment of the foundation drawings for the steel frame structure and has indicated satisfaction with those documents. The next phase will involve the Board of Education, which will act as supervisory consultants, conducting its own technical review and engaging the contractor to verify outstanding matters before construction advances.

Officials noted that while the architectural design of the school remains largely unchanged, structural and foundational elements have been refined to ensure cost efficiency, durability, and safety. International architectural firm KSS of England remains associated with the project alongside local and regional technical professionals.

A final design meeting with the project’s design consultants is scheduled for next week. Once the full complement of structural drawings is available and technical reviews are concluded, construction is expected to proceed more decisively within weeks

UWI Five Islands Campus Expansion – Procurement and Tendering

With regard to the expansion of the UWI Five Islands Campus, Cabinet was informed that the Request for Proposals (RFP) documentation for contractors has been reviewed and returned for corrections and updates. Upon resubmission and approval by the relevant financing and oversight bodies, the project will be issued for local and international tender. Current projections indicate that the tender process should commence in early March.

To promote meaningful domestic participation, a database of local contractors, suppliers, and vendors is being compiled and publicly advertised. This initiative is intended to enable international firms to identify and partner with qualified local entities. It is anticipated that up to thirty percent of the construction value may be executed by local subcontractors, subject to compliance with tax, regulatory, and qualification requirements.

Once the tender documents and drawings receive final approval, shortlisted international contractors will be afforded a sixty-day bidding period. Based on present timelines, project officials expressed confidence that ground-breaking activities could begin during the summer of this year.

Local Industry Participation and Capacity Building

Cabinet also discussed strategies to strengthen local industry participation, including the encouragement of joint ventures and partnerships between international firms and capable domestic contractors. Emphasis was placed on building local capacity, retaining a greater share of project value within the national economy, and ensuring that local professionals and construction firms gain experience on large-scale infrastructure developments.

Cabinet reiterated its commitment to the timely and prudent execution of both the Five Islands Primary School and the UWI Five Islands Campus expansion. Members underscored that these projects are central to the Government’s broader strategy to modernize educational infrastructure, stimulate economic activity, and provide safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments for students at all levels.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]