The Antigua and Barbuda government has allocated Crown land on Factory Road in St. John’s for the construction of a permanent headquarters for PDV-CAB, along with facilities to provide shelter and assistance to homeless people.
The land, located east of the St. John’s Fire Station, will accommodate the organization’s administrative operations and a refuge intended to support some of the country’s most vulnerable residents.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced the decision during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, following discussions about expanding social assistance programmes and improving services for homeless people.
PDV-CAB has operated from rented premises for approximately 21 years, and the allocation of Crown land is intended to provide the organization with a permanent location from which to deliver its services.
The decision forms part of a broader government initiative to strengthen assistance for vulnerable people, particularly those living on the streets of St. John’s.
Cabinet also approved plans for a portable shower programme to provide homeless people with access to bathing facilities, clean clothing and other basic hygiene services.
Under that initiative, PDV-CAB will collaborate with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross and a local soup kitchen to provide assistance to people who may otherwise have limited access to proper sanitation.
The proposed refuge is expected to complement those efforts by providing a dedicated facility where homeless individuals can receive support.
The allocation of land also addresses the organization’s longstanding dependence on rented accommodation, potentially allowing resources currently spent on rent to be redirected toward its operations and assistance programmes.
The government has not announced a construction timetable, estimated project cost or the number of people the proposed refuge will accommodate.
Further details are expected as planning progresses for the development of the site.
The initiative comes as Cabinet continues to examine ways of addressing homelessness and improving living conditions for vulnerable residents in Antigua and Barbuda.
The proposed headquarters and refuge represent an expansion of the government’s social assistance infrastructure, with the Factory Road location intended to serve as a permanent base for PDV-CAB’s operations and homeless support services.
Source: Antigua News Room Antigua and Barbuda Government Allocates Crown Land for New PDV-CAB Headquarters and Homeless Refuge.