Antigua and Barbuda PM Denies Gentrification Claims in Booby Alley Redevelopment
Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has dismissed concerns that the Booby Alley redevelopment project is an attempt at gentrification, stating that the initiative is solely focused on improving living conditions for residents rather than displacing them.
Speaking on the matter, Browne reaffirmed his government’s commitment to uplifting communities, particularly those with longstanding infrastructural challenges.
He stated that the project will provide modern housing to current residents and is not designed to push them out in favor of wealthier occupants.
“The Booby Alley redevelopment is about raising the standard of living for our people,” Browne said.
“We are ensuring that those who have lived there will be accommodated in a much-improved environment. This is not about removing anyone—it’s about providing better housing, better infrastructure, and a higher quality of life.”
The Prime Minister also pointed to broader efforts to enhance urban development across Antigua and Barbuda, citing other housing initiatives aimed at addressing long-term social and economic needs.
He challenged the notion that redevelopment equates to gentrification, arguing that the term is being misused to stir unnecessary fears.
“Some people are trying to misrepresent what we are doing,” he noted. “But the reality is, we are investing in our people, not replacing them. The Booby Alley project will ensure that residents return to modern, comfortable homes in the same community they have always called home.”
The Booby Alley redevelopment is part of the government’s wider housing program, which has included partnerships with international stakeholders to fund and accelerate construction efforts.
Browne said that similar projects, such as the Booby Alley housing scheme funded by a Chinese grant, demonstrate the administration’s proactive approach to community development.
Concerns about gentrification stem from fears that redevelopment could result in long-term displacement of lower-income residents due to rising property values and shifts in neighborhood demographics. However, Browne assured the public that the government has no plans to displace existing families and reiterated that affordability and accessibility remain top priorities.
“The people of Booby Alley deserve quality housing just as much as anyone else,” Browne asserted.
The government has pledged to provide further updates as construction progresses, ensuring transparency and engagement with residents throughout the process.
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Just like the name I am writing under may suggest, I speak to truth. I have no reason to disbelieve the PM on this one. The evidence is there plain as day. That he and his government is deliberate in improving the housing in Antigua.
So you don’t have any further or defend you stance on the Booby Alley Project.
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