Director General Merchant Provides Update on Barbuda Port

An assessment has been carried on the sister island to find a suitable area for the construction of a new port, and according to Cabinet Spokesperson Maurice Merchant, an area has been identified.

The next steps are now being worked on.

“The topography of Barbuda is unique and so therefore they have been looking at various areas and last week I announced that they believe that they have found a particular area and so I know that there are principles of the government who would have traveled to Barbuda to assess the suitability of that area that was selected”, Merchant explained.

“We have not had a full report from those individuals but as soon as they do, we would know the area that has been earmarked and what government plans are in terms of constructing that new port in Barbuda.” 

Merchant explained that earlier locations presented challenges due to unfavourable topography and soil conditions that would not support port construction.

The government has shown that they believe construction of a new port to be paramount as development continues on the sister isle.

“As you know Barbuda has been developing by leaps and bounds and tourism is one of its major industries there and so the need for an updated port and not just a simple docking station is the intention of the government and so they have been looking at various areas”, Merchant added.

It was last October that Prime Minister Gaston Browne shared comprehensive plans for the development of Barbuda into one of the top luxury destinations.

In those plans was the new cargo port to accommodate larger shipping containers, a business hub on the old airport site, and expanded banking services to support the island’s economic growth.

While many have welcomed the move, Barbuda Council member John Mussington is not on board.

He is adamant that there is no justification for relocating the port.