John Public – By Jeressa Jeremy
John Public Cemetery Close
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that the St John’s Public Cemetery will officially cease the digging of new graves effective March 31, 2026.
The decision, confirmed during this week’s post-Cabinet briefing, marks a definitive shift in the management of the nation’s burial grounds, as the historic site reaches its maximum capacity.
Director of Communications Maurice Merchant explained that while the facility will no longer accommodate new plots, the closure specifically targets the creation of new graves.
“Cabinet decided that the closure of the St John’s Cemetery will be in effect from the end of this month where there will be no new burials,” Merchant said. “New burials in the sense of having new graves being dug. So this coming end of month, burials will only be … at Tranquility Park.”
The transition to the Tranquility Park Cemetery is already underway, though officials acknowledged that the move involves a “teething phase” as the public adjusts to the infrastructure and regulations of the new site.
“Tranquility Park is a new structure and so there are teething phases,” Merchant noted. “And as you mentioned, one of the rules being that there are no plastic flowers. You can pass on a daily basis and you see a large number of plastic flowers there. And so it’s a work in progress that will gradually change.”
While the St John’s Public Cemetery will no longer issue new plots, families with existing tombs or pre-established family plots are expected to maintain their access for future interments.
Merchant clarified that the shift is a necessary evolution of urban space management, as the grounds have served the community for decades.
The government intends for the historic site to eventually transition into a managed memorial space, ensuring that the legacy of those interred remains respected while the nation utilizes modern facilities for future needs.
