The UK Pleased with Road Works Progress

The UK Pleased with Road Works Progress

On Thursday 10th May 2018, Prime Minister Gaston Browne met with the Head of Office for the United Kingdom Department for International Development, Mrs. Colleen Wainwright to speak on a number of issues-the Road Rehabilitation Programme being key among them.

Recently, the government of the United Kingdom through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund, UKCIF, provided financial assistance of 13.9 Million pounds for the development of vital infrastructure.  The road works programme has already started in Antigua with the rehabilitation of both the Friars Hill Road and the Sir George Walter Highway.

In welcoming the Head of Department, Prime Minister Gaston Browne thanked her and the UK government for the 13.9 million pounds grant for the road rehabilitation.

In response, MS. Wainwright offered her congratulations to Prime Minister Browne on the recently concluded elections. “Congratulations on your re-election.  The High Commissioner also sends her congratulations. We are delighted that we will be opening a new resident British High Commissioner’s office in Antigua and Barbuda,” she said.  Wainwright said she anticipates that the High Commission will open in the first quarter of next year and they are very excited about the opportunity to bring the countries closer.

She also praised the work being done thus far on the partnership road works programme.

“We are really pleased with the project, you were the first to get the diggers in the ground,” Mrs. Wainwright commented.  Antigua and Barbuda is not the only country to benefit from the assistance partnership programme, however, according to Mrs. Wainwright, Antigua and Barbuda is the first country to capitalize on the programme and commence work.

In praising the government for its role in the project, the Head of the UK based department said, “It’s been really impressive and I think your team here has really worked hard on it.”

Prime Minister Browne, in agreeing with the Head, noted that the rehabilitation programme is primarily driven by the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda which really made the difference. Cabinet over the weeks prior and during the programme invited the contractors and representatives from the Ministry of Works to Cabinet meetings to provide continuous updates on the programme.

PM Browne thanked Mrs. Wainwright and the UK Government for its continued support for infrastructural development programme.

ENDS