Buildings along High Street and adjoining areas are set to receive fresh coats of paint ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, with the government providing paint as part of improvements to St. John’s.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Friday that the painting would begin in the coming days, while a broader programme to improve other main streets would follow the November 1–4 summit.
The work forms part of preparations for the international gathering, whose opening ceremony is to be held in the High Street area.
Merchant was responding to questions about the three-member ministerial team assigned to oversee the capital’s redevelopment, comprising Works Minister Maria Browne, Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas and Social and Urban Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner.
He said the ministers had been working on the ongoing High Street improvements, although the committee had not formally commenced its wider Cabinet-assigned redevelopment programme.
“Following the Commonwealth heads of government, that three-member team will get down to some serious work in tackling the other main streets within St. John’s,” Merchant said.
Asked whether the government would provide the paint for the immediate improvements, he confirmed that it would. No cost or number of participating properties was announced.
The painting programme comes as utility upgrades and road repairs continue across the capital ahead of CHOGM.
Merchant said the Antigua Public Utilities Authority expected to withdraw its construction teams from St. John’s by the end of the weekend, allowing the Ministry of Works to accelerate road resurfacing and restoration.
Installation of new water distribution lines has been completed, he said, with High Street already being supplied through its new main. Remaining utility work includes final service connections, valve box covers and reinstatement of affected pavement.
Merchant said Cabinet remained confident that the Ministry of Works could complete the necessary improvements in time for Antigua and Barbuda to host the summit.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Government-funded painting to begin on High Street ahead of CHOGM.