Fitches Creek Residents Call for Urgent Road Repairs Amid Airport Expansion

Frustrated residents of Fitches Creek are demanding immediate action to repair and protect their community roads, which they say have been severely damaged by heavy truck traffic linked to the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority’s (ABAA) US$55 million Runway Expansion Project.

More than 50 residents and stakeholders attended a consultation on Tuesday evening at the St. George’s Anglican Church, organized by the Fitches Creek Residents Association (FCRA). Among those present were Max Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, representatives from the ABAA, AECON, AVIA, the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda – Parham Police Department, and members of the FCRA’s conservation project under the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF).

Residents reported that Fitches Creek Drive, Central Avenue, and St. George Road have deteriorated rapidly as contractors transport aggregate and other materials to the airport’s back entrance. Complaints also included reckless driving, uncovered truckloads spilling debris, vehicles without license plates, and a lack of clear timelines for completion of the works.

The community also highlighted health, safety, and environmental risks, stressing that their location within the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA) requires greater safeguards. With the 2025 hurricane season underway, residents warned that flooding and drainage issues could worsen.

Minister Fernandez pledged to provide the community with timelines for remedial roadworks, in coordination with the Ministry of Works.

ABAA representatives promised to work with contractors to reroute heavy machinery away from residential roads and to engage with the Ministry of Works for rehabilitation support.

Police officials encouraged residents to report speeding, spillage, and illegal dumping, assuring them that photo and video evidence would be used to enforce action against violators.

Britney McDonald, Project Manager for the FCRA’s Biodiversity and Conservation Project, stressed the importance of ongoing consultations and environmental training, ensuring that development projects are implemented responsibly and with minimal community impact.
Although invited, St. Peter MP Hon. Rawdon Turner was unable to attend the meeting due to official travel.