Housing and Works Minister Maria Bird Browne plans to expand national infrastructure, introduce a new $130,000 home model and accelerate road and drainage upgrades in 2026, Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant said during Friday’s post-Cabinet briefing.
Merchant said Browne presented a comprehensive outline of her ministry’s priorities, including a major push to make home ownership more attainable for first-time and lower-income buyers. According to Merchant, Browne told the Cabinet she intends to roll out homes priced at $130,000 for the structure, forming part of a wider plan to broaden access to affordable housing .
Merchant said Browne also detailed a national infrastructure upgrade program for next year, anchored by the long-planned reconstruction of the All Saints Road. He said the ministry has already contracted a North American company paired with a local firm, noting that teams have been carrying out surveys and assessments on the 11-mile corridor, which stretches from Market Street to English Harbour .
Drainage will be another major focus. Merchant said Browne highlighted that heavy rainfall continues to pose challenges even when quickly absorbed, and the ministry will prioritize drainage improvements in communities most affected by water flow. He said the ministry has mapped major waterways and will upgrade drains linked to outlets such as the St. John’s Harbour and eastern coastal areas .
Merchant said Browne also outlined plans to upgrade community sporting facilities — including resurfaced basketball and volleyball courts, new equipment and enhanced public recreational spaces — as part of a broader effort to improve youth engagement and community infrastructure .
Renovations and maintenance of government buildings, including accommodation for civil servants, are also expected to form a key part of the 2026 program. Merchant said Browne described next year as “a big year” for her ministry, with a focus not only on road construction but on making communities more livable and modernizing public facilities .
Merchant also used the briefing to criticize what he called political attacks on Browne, referencing recent controversy surrounding a batch of government vehicles that had been ordered without Cabinet authorization. He said Browne identified the issue herself, recovered the vehicles and returned them to the dealer, arguing that the criticism of her was unwarranted and politically motivated. Merchant said the Cabinet views attacks on Browne as attacks on the entire government and will defend her integrity and record .
