The Cabinet began its weekly session with a prayer from a minister of religion who invoked God’s presence and prayed for the wellbeing of the members.
1. The Cabinet invited the WOTA Group (from Japan) to address members on the issue of waste-water treatment by small plants that can serve households, businesses, schools, and other places where APUA water is regularly discharged. The small plants would receive greywater (not black water), remove the pollutants and other impurities from the wastewater, and transform the greywater into pure, potable water that can be used by humans, or used in gardens, or put to other uses. The team included officials from the Department of the Environment who have been integral to placement of the experimental plants on Antigua. Three of these plants have been undergoing testing at three separate locations in Antigua since sometime in 2024. The presenters reported that the plants work extremely well. They presented two sealed bottles of water, one from a regular supplier and the other from their wastewater plant. The quality was indistinguishable, as was the smell and (the Cabinet was told) the taste. The WOTA Group revealed that the output is tested each week, air-shipped to Japan to a laboratory there. The cost of each unit is pricey, the Cabinet found, but perfect for use in the National Housing projects that have been located in several places around Antigua, and soon in Barbuda.
2. The Minister of Legal Affairs and Justice received by telephone a report from the Deputy Police Commissioner on the search that the Royal Police Force has been conducting to locate a missing adult—39-year old Orden “Passo” David. The Police reported that they have been out every day utilizing the K-9 Unit, a drone, foot patrols, and doing everything that could possibly be done to locate the missing person whose family is grateful for the immense support. This report was received around midday today, and the work will continue into the afternoon.
3. The Cabinet held a discussion on the construction of homes in Barbuda at Louie Hill and the work being done to prepare the land for the construction of these homes. Although the perimeters of the Louie Hill site have been determined, the blocks and parcels have not yet been surveyed. The Cabinet agreed that the surveys will take place over time and that the removal of vegetation is to be carried out in accordance with the survey plan. The project will eventually feature 200 homes, a shopping mall, and other amenities to be negotiated.
4. The Minister of Tourism gave a report on his meeting with the two firms that are undertaking dredging near the Crabbes Peninsula and the St. John’s Harbour. The dredging was initially assigned to a local firm called Blue Ocean, in which the government has a significant investment interest; the principals in turn subcontracted Dutch Dredging to remove hard rock that was found at both sites. A further survey has been ordered so that the precise amount of rock to be removed is known before the work begins. The delay in the completion of the dredging has resulted in the postponement of larger vessels carrying cement to the storage facility at Crabbes. The demand for cement is extremely high as the construction industry continues to expand.
5. The Minister responsible for Information and Technology, reported to Cabinet that a technology firm known as Starlink, a provider of telecommunications services, has been serving customers in Antigua and Barbuda but paying no taxes to the government. Their technology utilizes satellite services which allows them to bypass the technologies utilized by other telecommunication firms. The ABST is to be paid and every effort will be made to secure the taxes owed, the Cabinet agreed.
6. The Cabinet expressed its condolences to the Minister of Agriculture, Anthony Smith, whose nephew died overseas and the remains returned to Antigua for burial today. The Cabinet meeting was truncated so that members could attend the funeral service.
