The government has announced a sweeping national beautification initiative that will see more than 400 government buildings repainted in the coming months, beginning with state offices in the capital, St. John’s.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the Cabinet has approved the allocation of a “sizable sum of money for the painting or the repainting of all government buildings in Antigua and Barbuda,” describing the move as part of the administration’s wider transformation and modernization agenda.
He noted that the effort will start with government-owned buildings in St. John’s and is expected to expand nationwide.
“It is anticipated that the private sector will follow suit in repainting their buildings,” Merchant said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
The initiative complements a new Building-Repair Fund approved by the Cabinet to finance the restoration and maintenance of public offices.
Merchant said the fund will focus on addressing the condition of the more than 400 properties occupied by government agencies across the country.
“The Cabinet agreed that there will be the establishment of this fund to look at the entire reconstruction and repairs of government buildings,” he explained.
Officials say the repainting campaign and repair fund form part of broader preparations to enhance the nation’s appearance and infrastructure ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Antigua and Barbuda will host.
