St John’s Revamp Must Put Residents First, Says Tourism Minister

Tourism Minister and MP for St John’s Rural North Charles Fernandez has said plans to redevelop the capital must prioritise the needs of residents, not just visitors.

Speaking at a national consultation on the redevelopment of St John’s on Wednesday, Mr Fernandez said the initiative was about improving quality of life for Antiguans and Barbudans, even as tourism remains vital to the economy.

“This is not just about uplifting St John’s for tourists. This is for us,” he told attendees, noting his own personal ties to the city.

Mr Fernandez praised Urban Development Minister Rawdon Turner for organising the consultation, describing it as one of the most extensive engagements on the city’s future. He said the strong turnout showed growing public interest in working with the government on renewal efforts.

He highlighted collaboration between the Ministries of Tourism and Works and said progress had already been made on road upgrades. Government agencies, he added, have been responding to concerns raised by vendors, taxi drivers and business owners.

The minister said discussions are continuing on incentives to encourage property owners to upgrade buildings, stressing that private sector involvement will be key to the project’s success.

Addressing long-standing infrastructure issues, including open gutters and sewage systems, Mr Fernandez suggested small-scale sewage and water treatment solutions for individual businesses as a practical alternative to a costly city-wide system.

Parking and traffic management were also flagged as priorities, with proposals for a digital parking payment system, using QR codes, expected to be taken to Cabinet following consultations with the Transport Board.

Mr Fernandez said work is under way on a master plan for St John’s, focusing on traffic flow, public safety and improved coordination with law enforcement. In the short term, he said damaged garbage bins across the city are expected to be replaced within weeks.

Pointing to the redevelopment of the port area, he said the transformation demonstrated the government’s commitment to the capital, adding that the success of the wider project would depend on continued cooperation between government, property owners and the community.

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