Antigua’s redeveloped Deep Water Harbour port will help Antigua and Barbuda achieve its goal of becoming an Eastern Caribbean transshipment hub.
During Thursday’s official opening ceremony, Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that the facility is the sole container terminal port in the OECS, allowing it to provide services to neighbouring nations.
The Chinese construction giant China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation redeveloped the port for $90 million. The work began in 2018 but was plagued by delays due to the Covid epidemic.
Darwin Telemaque, Port Authority CEO, referred to the port’s completion as a “momentous journey” and added that the facility now has “all the ingredients for a bright future.”
And with the holiday season in full swing, port officials have implemented several measures to accommodate the typical increase in traffic.
Telemaque asserts that people should receive significantly enhanced service based on the port changes.
“We brought in almost 20 young men, and we brought them in temporarily to ensure that bulk that we would find when goods are unavailable is not going to exist for this Christmas season. So far, we have seen the ability to prepare the cargo and get it ready, which has advanced availability and increased our ability to deliver. We are also opening early on Saturdays each month. Last Saturday was the first Saturday we opened for cargo delivery and cargo certification because Customs was also there,” Telemaque added.
The port currently features a brand-new cruise berth, cargo and logistics facilities, and more amenities. Additionally, offices have been constructed to house Customs and Excise, the Plant Protection Unit, Immigration, and other services to prevent consumers from having to travel to and from St. John’s.
Additionally, Gate 3 was renamed in honour of Winston Gomes, the first and longest-serving port employee.
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