It’s time we stop pretending that St. John’s City is functioning the way a capital should. It had its moment, yes—but what we’re holding onto now feels more like denial.
Walking through the city is not just inconvenient—it’s exhausting. Moving from one point to another feels like navigating an obstacle course: stepping up, stepping down, dodging broken pavement, sidestepping hazards. Outside of Heritage Quay, a smooth, continuous walking path is almost nonexistent.
And that’s not just an inconvenience—it’s exclusionary.
I recently saw a tourist struggling to push a loved one in a wheelchair through the streets. It was painful to watch. If I were in their position, after encountering the state of the city, I would have turned around and gone straight back to the cruise ship. That moment alone says everything about accessibility in St. John’s: it doesn’t exist in any meaningful way.
Then there are the smells—unavoidable and unpleasant—lingering as you move through different areas. Open gutters and aging trash bins, which may have once been practical solutions, are now part of the problem. They are outdated, insufficient, and in need of urgent replacement.
The physical state of the city tells a similar story. Buildings are visibly deteriorating, and many retail spaces make little effort to present themselves in an appealing way. Merchandising is an afterthought, if considered at all.
Parking only adds to the frustration. Spaces are informally claimed and guarded with cones by business owners, organizations, and individuals like car washers alike. The message is clear: convenience is not a priority. So why should anyone feel encouraged to drive into the city to shop or support businesses?
Additionally, when Antigua Public Utilities Authority digs up roads, they are often left in disrepair for extended periods. Roads become partially or fully impassable, and the delays in fixing them feel unreasonable and avoidable.
At some point, we have to acknowledge a simple truth: nothing maintains itself. In the same way that a hot girl invests in her upkeep, a city requires consistent care, planning, and reinvestment. St. John’s has not received that level of attention—and it shows.
This is not about dismissing the city’s history. It’s about being honest. The current state of St. John’s is not sustainable, and continuing to act as though it is does a disservice to residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
The city is beyond saving and we need businesses to effectively move elsewhere so that we can get the service and comfort we need.
Frustrated
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I fully agree with the writer’s assessment of our town’s dire need for a makeover. The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has been the driving force behind this neglect. Streets are unsafe—open manholes, broken bridges—and it is their decisions that have allowed vendors to crowd walkways with tents, forcing pedestrians into danger. Businesses park at will, and the government profits from these small cash grabs, while real safety and access are ignored. I stand in agreement with this call for a serious overhaul—no longer can we let politics derail our future. Our safety, our business, and our island depend on immediate change.
I fully agree with the writer’s assessment of our town’s dire need for a makeover. The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has been the driving force behind this neglect. Streets are unsafe—open manholes, broken bridges—and it is their decisions that have allowed vendors to crowd walkways with tents, forcing pedestrians into danger. Businesses park at will, and the government profits from these small cash grabs, while real safety and access are ignored. I stand in agreement with this call for a serious overhaul—no longer can we let politics derail our future. Our safety, our business, and our island depend on immediate change.
St. John’s Development Corporation is the biggest waste organization anywhere in the entire Caribbean, on top of that Labour RATS have been in control except for just a brief period. Papa Bird did his best although being labeled a seventh standard boy, then came Lester and most people I talk to felt then is when corruption started. Baldwin came tried his best and nothing much change except we got some good social programs. Enter the Charlatan, all of self and none of thee. Corruption went on steroids when they were told to creatively enrich themselves. That’s why we became the shithouse State we are, the people must act to end it now.
Where’s Regis Burton, is he high on smoke or edibles? This was supposed to be Gaston’s golden boy with the miracle plan for overhauling the City.
Too much amnesty is destroying the city.
And when I tell them that ST John’s stink to high heavens, they say I hate Antigua.lol.
Well I’ve seen that reality up front from this fraudulent government..talk big big with not a damn city to even brag about.
When anyone praise the Chinese or the Americans for that matter, it’s one thing they always brag about, and that’s infrastructure.
Take a page from your boss Wing Ping Ting, GB.
I thought they were teaching well, because you certainly don’t listen to or care about your fellow Antiguan’s.
Even our hero Viv talked to you, and what you did, you cuss the man like he was your step son.
GB is way over his head, way over. He is a good sales man, and that’s it.
Wrong job he’s in, plain and simple.
Sales men generally do not care about the customer, they are just driven by the sale,
That’s why I turned away from such ruthless careers when I came to foreign.
Wait!
I thought we were living in a economic powerhouse 🤔
Eh!
Fool all the people all the time!
People stand up for some kind of right!
Omg, end the creative enrichment schemes.
Enough already!
Time for a change….
I’m notngoing to be political. But I don’t agree that town stink and rotten. The whole thing need to bulldoze and start over with proper planning and proper parking. I hardly visit there and then whenever I do I try to quickly get what I need and leave. We maintain NOTHING in Antigua. We have no civic pride. Yet we want to keep pushing tourism. The tourists will stop coming if we continue to let town disintegrate!!!!
** that should be DO agree
The city badly wants a face-lift. Especially when you travel within the region and compare what tourists are being presented with. We NEED to do better. We NEED to polish the “Tourism” product. We NEED to forget the politics for one second and think about our country’s longevity.
In Antigua and Barbuda if you report any problems they say you hate Antigua and Barbuda and they attack you. This is something both political party love to do, happened to me as recently when I got food poisoned at the hotel. How are we ever going to get better if we hate hearing the truth that can motivate us to be better?
I predict a horrible spill (oil or gas or other chemical) is going to happen around the country on the beach and we will not have the billions of dollars and equipment to clean this ultra-harzadous spill.
Tourism will cease and I wonder what will the country do at that time. As the country will not have the capacity to take any actions. My prediction.
maybe the relevant persons can take a look at the maintenance schedules, routines and budgets in orher islands and countries and then apply a similar system her?
@Writer I agree with you points 100%. I would like to add though that it’s not only the Capitol that looks and smells bad. Drive for more than an 30 minutes in any direction and you’re likely to see random piles of garbage in bushes and the smell of dead animals.
Antigua is in this state because the people who live here, we the residents, have made it so. Who works at the APUA that is always digging up the roads? We do. Who maintains our roads and infrastructure? We do. Who owns those dilapidated or abandoned structures in town and across the island? We do. Who works at DCA and are not enforcing the covenants of many of our properties? Allowing businesses and mechanic “shops” in our residential areas.
We are the problem and until the majority of us develop a sense of civic pride and demand more than a job and a few gifts from our leaders it will only get worse. The politicians give is what they know we want and when we want it. If they knew for a fact that operating the way they do would cost them the election you would see how fast they shape up.
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