The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says it will establish a dedicated oversight board to manage the new $100 million road rehabilitation fund, financed by a vehicle user fee. The initiative aims to accelerate long-overdue repairs, particularly in community and village roads across the country.
Speaking during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst explained that the fund will operate similarly to the Board of Education model—ringfenced and independent of the central treasury to prevent diversion of resources.
“This money will not go into the Consolidated Fund where it becomes fungible. It will go into a separate account managed by a board,” Hurst said. “The board will ensure that the funds are used exclusively for road repairs, with the Ministry of Works responsible for implementation.”
The $100 million fund will be supported by the recently introduced vehicle user fee—equivalent to $104 per year—collected during annual registration. Hurst confirmed that funds have just begun accumulating from April registrations and will be used to service a loan that will finance the repair works.
Although no specific roads have yet been confirmed, the Ministry of Works is said to be preparing a list of priority areas, with a focus on improving roads in residential and underserved communities. A timeline and detailed rollout plan are expected to be published in the coming months.
“We will see the prioritised roadworks published so the public knows when and where road rehabilitation will begin and end in each district,” Hurst added.
The announcement comes amid growing frustration over deteriorating road conditions and pothole-riddled streets, particularly in rural areas. The government maintains that this dedicated fund, along with greater transparency, will mark a new era in infrastructure management.
Cabinet officials have also indicated that while the user fee is modest—approximately 40 cents per day—the cumulative impact across tens of thousands of registered vehicles will provide the financial leverage needed to tackle repairs on a national scale.
