Works Minister Maria Bird-Browne has confirmed that the government expects to receive the first drawdown from the $100 million road-construction facility in January, emphasising that no part of the loan has been accessed yet and defending the Ministry of Works against public accusations of mismanagement.
Speaking during Monday’s Budget Debate, Bird-Browne said, “Going into 2026, we’re looking at our first drawdown of the $100 million.” She added: “Many individuals have been saying that we would have accessed a hundred million dollar loan — that is not true. We haven’t accessed that as yet. We’re looking to get the first drawdown by January.”
She said the ministry has already submitted all required technical documents for the first $20 million tranche: “Everything from contractor names, over 50 of them actually, everything from contractor names to the amounts to the area… Everything has been submitted, so we’re just waiting to hear back from them.”
Seven major roads set for construction in 2026
Bird-Browne announced that the ministry will concentrate on seven major roads once the drawdown is received.
“Going into 2026, we’re going to be concentrating on seven main roads… First and foremost, the All Saints Road.”
She listed them as:
- All Saints Road
- Burning Flames Highway
- Cedar Valley Main Road
- Marble Hill Main Road
- Anchorage Road – Part 2 (First Choice to Sandals)
- Sir George Walter Highway
- The road from Hatton to Five Islands
“These,” she said, “are the ones that are in need of serious repair” and will help “alleviate some of the traffic burden” on newly completed roads.
Bird-Browne stressed that the public often misunderstands the scale of the All Saints project.
“Many individuals see it as a certain part, but it’s actually 11 miles.” The road will run “from the BC Bird Bus at the market going all the way to English Harbour.”
She said the agreement is now with the legal department and “we’ll be making all of that information available for everyone to see.”
The project will be executed with Amdex, a consortium involving local and Canadian ownership. She said the Canadian partner, Dexter, has experience across the Caribbean and “will be offering training for our staff… that training may even allow them to travel to Canada for further training as well.”
She also highlighted two persistent problem areas slated for correction next year:
- Friars Hill Road (just outside Woods)
- Airport Road near the Wallings Highway junction, a known flood zone
Bird-Browne said the ministry is preparing engineering drawings and bringing in specialist expertise:
“Because of the heavy water table… it is very difficult to do it in-house. So we’re actually getting expertise outside… geologists and hydrologists.”
