Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner, called for honest dialogue and shared responsibility in the ongoing effort to revive Antigua and Barbuda’s capital city during the first public consultation on the redevelopment and revitalization of St. John’s on Wednesday night.

Turner spoke directly to property and business owners, government officials and residents at the John E. St. Luce Conference Center, painting a frank picture of the city’s current challenges — and the work needed from both the public and private sectors.

“I’ve walked through St. John’s many times,” Turner said, reflecting on his early years and his subsequent role overseeing urban transformation. “We are at a point where we need candid, open discussions about where we take St. John’s.”

While the Prime Minister had outlined broader themes for the consultation, Turner focused specifically on infrastructure issues, building aesthetics and the overall visual condition of the city’s built environment. He highlighted a range of structural concerns — from neglected façades along High Street and Market Street to buildings that once housed prominent businesses now marked by decay.

Turner pointed to the responsibility of property owners, especially those who continue to collect rent without reinvesting in maintenance. “What is so wrong,” he asked, “with painting a building and using rent to uphold it?”

He also acknowledged challenges the government must address, including infrastructure upgrades, vending issues and sidewalk damage caused by vehicles — all factors affecting both city functionality and aesthetics.

The minister stressed the need for a collaborative approach, urging property owners, business leaders and government to “work together” to arrest what he described as the ongoing urban decay in parts of the capital. “St. John’s can be corrected if we choose to have frank and open discussions and work together — the time is now,” Turner said.

St John’s Consultation at John E. St. Luce Conference center (photo by Office of the Prime Minister)

The consultation, organized by the St. John’s Development Corporation under the theme “Your City. Your Voice,” aims to gather feedback on key urban issues including city aesthetics, garbage collection, drainage and the demolition of derelict buildings.