PM: New Heavy-Duty Dredger to Restart Stalled Harbour Works
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says a newly acquired heavy-duty dredging machine will allow Antigua and Barbuda to complete stalled dredging works after existing equipment proved unable to handle large rocks and bedrock.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne show on Pointe FM, Browne said dredging at Parham Harbour had been hampered by hard rock formations that overwhelmed the machinery previously in use. He noted that even a foreign Dutch dredging firm hired to assist was forced to abandon the job because its equipment could not manage the conditions .
The prime minister said the government therefore had “no other choice” but to purchase a larger, more powerful machine capable of removing heavy rock. The equipment arrived in sections and is currently being assembled on island by technicians .
Browne said the dredger is expected to be operational within about a week. He added that the government also plans to lease a barge from Guadeloupe within the next two weeks to support the operation .
Once ready, dredging will resume at Parham Harbour, also known as Crabbs, before the equipment is moved to St. John’s Harbour to complete works there, Browne said .
The prime minister said completing the dredging is critical to improving harbour access and advancing related port development projects .
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