Telemaque: Crabbs Channel Upgrade Gives Antigua Vital Backup to St. John’s Harbour

Antigua and Barbuda is better positioned to withstand disruptions to its maritime trade following maintenance dredging of the Crabbs Channel, according to Darwin Telemaque, who says the works address a critical vulnerability in the country’s port infrastructure.

Telemaque argued that a nation heavily dependent on goods arriving by sea should have an alternative major entry point if access to its principal harbour is compromised.

“An island totally dependent on maritime traffic should never have one major entry point!” he said.
He described the upgrade at Crabbs as an important step towards reducing dependence on the St. John’s Harbour channel and safeguarding the movement of supplies.

“Our nation is now far more resilient as a result of this upgrade,” Telemaque said.

“Should an incident create a challenge within our St. John’s Harbour channel, we now have redundancy.”

That backup, he explained, is central to the value of the works completed so far. His argument places the project within the broader question of how Antigua and Barbuda would maintain maritime access if its main channel became unavailable.

For businesses and residents who depend on imported goods, Telemaque said the investment serves a national purpose by strengthening the country’s ability to keep maritime activity moving.

“Above all, the national interest and sustainability of our people and business community are better served as a result of the works completed thus far at Crabbs!” he said.

Telemaque pointed to other Caribbean countries with multiple ports as examples of the importance of maintaining alternative maritime gateways.

He cited Kingston Harbour, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica; Roseau and Portsmouth in Dominica; Castries and Vieux Fort in Saint Lucia; and Kingstown and Camden Park in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

He also referenced the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago, where several ports support maritime activity.

The comparison underscored his position that alternative access should be a priority for island economies whose people and businesses rely on shipping.

For Antigua and Barbuda, he presented Crabbs as a significant addition to the country’s maritime options, with benefits extending beyond its ability to respond to a disruption.

Telemaque said the upgrade also strengthens the nation’s competitive position, linking more resilient infrastructure with the interests of the business community.

“We are not only building resilience… We are becoming more competitive!” he said.