The government of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to close the St. John’s Public Cemetery to new burials after the site reached its capacity following decades of use.

The decision was announced during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, where officials said the closure will take effect at the end of March.

Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, said the move is intended to address space constraints at the cemetery while preserving the rights of families with existing burial plots.

“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.

Under the new arrangement, new graves will no longer be permitted at the public cemetery. However, families who already have tombs or burial plots at the site will still be allowed to bury relatives in those spaces.

“Family members whose existing tombs or burial plots are within the cemetery will continue to be allowed to inter their relatives in those family spots,” Merchant said.

Officials said the measure will help manage limited space at the cemetery, which has served the public for many years.

“It has reached its capacity, as we all are familiar, after decades of serving the public,” Merchant said.

The site is also expected to transition toward a “tranquility park” concept as part of broader efforts to manage the space and improve the environment of the cemetery grounds.