Students from Villa Primary School joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CHOGM 2026 Secretariat on Friday to place recycled bottle caps on a mural being constructed as part of the public education build-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, set for Antigua and Barbuda this November.

The mural, a collaborative project between the CHOGM 2026 Organising Committee and environmental non-profit Good Humans 268 Inc., uses recycled plastic bottle caps collected from schools and community drives across the country.

Artist Calvin Pilgrim led the installation, which has been underway for approximately two weeks.

“It’s all about teaching people about recycling and also bringing awareness to CHOGM and the event that’s about to happen at the end of the year,” Pilgrim said.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne addressed those gathered, describing the mural as part of a broader public outreach programme linked to CHOGM preparations.

He said the activity was the latest in a series that had already included the Girl Guides, students who studied in China, the Wings Sports Club, and students from the Villa Primary School.

Browne said the project reflected the government’s position that waste carries inherent value.

“There is no such thing as waste. In other words, everything has value. And this particular mural shows very clearly that bottle caps that ordinarily will end up in the landfill, we’re using them here as a form of art, a form of creativity, while at the same time ensuring that they do not end up as waste,” he said.

CHOGM 2026 will run from November 1 to 4 in St. John’s, bringing together heads of government and representatives from 56 Commonwealth nations.

The Prime Minister pointed to infrastructure improvements underway ahead of the conference, including the establishment of a Performing Arts Centre at the former Deluxe facility and road upgrades across the island.

He called on businesses in St John’s to use the occasion to improve their properties.

“Even for Carnival this year, there’s no reason why they should not at least put a little paint on their respective buildings,” Prime Minister Browne said. “Let us start to beautify and to clean up our country, make it one of the most pristine nations on earth.”

Pilgrim, reflecting on his selection to design and construct the mural, said the project speaks to local talent.

“It just shows that there are Antiguans who are capable of doing lots of artistic things on the island,” he said. “I’m just happy to have been selected to be a part of it.”