Antigua and Barbuda’s government is pressing forward with its long-delayed campaign to clear derelict vehicles from roadsides and communities, but officials admit the process remains slow and complex.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant told reporters at Thursday’s Cabinet press briefing that a team has been assembled and is mapping the country by zones to identify and mark abandoned cars. Once marked, owners are given 14 days to remove them before the state takes control and sends them to the dump.
“The prime minister and the members of the Cabinet are getting very impatient with this process,” Merchant said. “Every time the prime minister speaks about beautification and greening, he expressed his frustration that this process needs to speed along.”
Merchant noted that legal issues complicate the effort, particularly when vehicles sit on property boundaries where owners may claim the right to keep them. Officials say those cases must be handled carefully to avoid disputes.
The cleanup is part of a wider beautification campaign that includes tree-planting along highways and a national cleanup drive next month led by the Defence Force. Officials say the initiatives are aimed at improving aesthetics, boosting tourism appeal, and promoting community pride.
