The much-anticipated opening of the Tomlinson Cemetery has faced delays due to persistent weather-related challenges and infrastructure hurdles.
Chief of Staff Lionel Max Hurst provided an update during the post-cabinet press conference, attributing the setbacks primarily to continuous rainfall, which has complicated road construction at the site.
“Rainy weather is part of the problem,” Hurst explained.
“You can’t build roads on wet mud. You really must wait for the mud to dry out so that you can compact it and then add a subbase, usually made of rocks from areas like Old Road and Bendals.”
He expressed hope that these issues would be resolved by the end of December, allowing the first burials to take place soon after.
The government is also preparing for future burial needs. Hurst announced the acquisition of an acre of land in Bolans to expand the public cemetery there.
This move aims to address the island’s growing burial demands, given the approximately 600 deaths recorded annually in Antigua and Barbuda.
The discussion also touched on the need to explore alternative burial methods, such as cremation, due to the limited availability of grave spaces.
Hurst noted that cremation is increasingly being adopted in other Caribbean nations and highlighted its potential to address long-term challenges.
He referenced the cremation of Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s mother as an example of this shift, suggesting that more families may consider cremation in the future.
Private operators, including local funeral homes, are expected to lead the establishment of crematoriums.
Hurst mentioned ongoing negotiations with funeral homes about land allocation and facility development to support these services.
While the government initially proposed a shared crematorium, funeral homes have expressed interest in building individual facilities to meet anticipated demand.
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