China to Donate 1,800 Solar Street Lights to Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is set to receive a major boost to its public lighting network with the arrival of 1,800 new solar-powered street lights, a gift from the Government of China.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne made the announcement over the weekend, revealing that the lights are expected on the island within the next two to three weeks and will be installed in communities across the country.

“We are getting 1,800 solar lights from the Chinese as a gift, within the next 2-3 weeks and we will be installing those as well throughout the country” Browne said on his weekly Browne and Browne radio programme.

The donation comes several years after the Chinese government provided a EC$10 million grant that funded the installation of 1,572 street lights across Antigua. The latest shipment is expected to further reduce electricity costs while enhancing road safety and security at night.

But the solar lights are only part of a wider plan by the government to improve the island’s appearance and infrastructure.

Browne said a special demolition unit will soon begin tearing down derelict properties and abandoned structures, which will then be cleared to the Cook’s landfill.

“We are giving the country a new look,” Browne explained. “Within the next 18 months, this country is going to look significantly cleaner. Roads will be beautifully marked, and they will be properly lit.”

The government’s beautification drive is expected to run alongside ongoing road upgrades and urban improvement projects. Officials believe the combination of cleaner public spaces, safer roads, and energy-efficient lighting will help modernize the island and improve quality of life for residents.