Works Minister Maria Browne received strong praise during Tuesday’s Throne Speech as the government highlighted what it described as significant progress in road rehabilitation projects across Antigua.
Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams pointed to several recently upgraded highways and ongoing infrastructure projects while commending Browne’s leadership of the Ministry of Works.
“The quality of the roads and highways in Antigua has been improving, my Government asserts,” Sir Rodney said during the ceremonial opening of Parliament.
The Governor-General listed a series of major roadways that have either been repaired or are currently undergoing rehabilitation, including the Sir George Walter Highway, Friars Hill Road, Sir Sidney Walling Highway, Valley Road from Golden Grove to Old Road and the Parham to Willikies Highway.
He also noted that work continues on All Saints Road and said secondary roads within villages and communities are being paved simultaneously.
According to the speech, a consortium of banks has agreed to advance EC$150 million to support roadworks through a vehicle user-fee arrangement.
The Throne Speech acknowledged that the government has faced challenges linked to shortages of cement but indicated that issue could soon ease as dredging work near the silos at Crabbes nears completion.
“A shortage of cement has been a challenge; however, as the dredging of the channel leading to the silos at Crabbes nears completion, that scarcity of cement will be of the past,” Sir Rodney said.
The Governor-General reserved special praise for Browne, describing her as a strong and effective leader within the administration.
“My Government expresses its sincerest thanks to the Minister of Works, the Honourable Maria Browne, for her management of a workforce that has performed admirably in the years since she assumed the role,” he said.
Sir Rodney also described Browne as “the first female to serve as Minister of Works” and credited her with bringing “energy, competence, a determination to succeed, and positive thinking to every task.”
The speech additionally praised Minister of State Shenella Govia, who has been reassigned to the Works Ministry, saying the government expects her to help strengthen the ministry’s efforts to achieve its infrastructure goals.
The road rehabilitation programme forms part of the government’s broader development agenda outlined during the opening of the new parliamentary term following the April 30 general election.
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Hurry up and fix all the roads….We have alot of modern vehicles driving on 19th century roads in this country….Let’s make the bad roads topic a thing of the past….
Ah wonder which part in Antigua Sir Rodney really drive, with the drivel he is spewing. Drive up and dung Newgate Street, Church Street, Tanner Street just to name a few. With all the brag about improvement in roads the whole place still looks shitty, unlike Sir Rodney, I drive all over Antigua. I am not reading from a prepared speech. Just stop the crap
Praised for being the Face of the Roadworks Scheme? I counted 14 large repaired patches on a drive from Mount Joy Service Station up to the intersection of Seatons Main Road and there are many more going east into Willikies and still, workmen are digging a crater further down, closer to Pares. They have been doing major repairs even before the road construction has been completed. Who is really paying for this neverending work? It has been said that all the limestone for those projects is being sourced from a quarry in the vicinity that is owned by Clan Members. Who is really footing the bill for this fraud? Did the areas really have to repaired and if so, why all those faults? They all need to come clean about the excesses. She is burning money at the Housing Scheme and has now expanded to the Roadworks Scheme. Seems like they learnt quite a bit from Odebretch.
Does anyone expect the Governor General to say otherwise in his Throne Speech.The Throne Speech is written for him,not by him.My Government is going to have water flowing 365 days a year.My Government would be building 500 homes in 500 days.Where were those homes built? Were they built using cardboard boxes?
Roads are poorly done, no proper drainage, RIDICULOUS!!