Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that the China-funded housing development at the former Booby Alley site will be completed and handed over to residents by October, timed as an Independence gift to the nation. According to Antigua News Room, the announcement came during a walkthrough of the project alongside a visiting Chinese delegation.
The development comprises nine buildings housing 150 condominium units. External painting and internal tiling have already been completed, and installation of windows and doors is approximately 90 percent finished.
Project representatives indicated that remaining internal work is expected to wrap up by June, with external works and the construction of a sewage treatment facility scheduled for completion in August.
Browne said the government is pursuing several adjustments ahead of the formal handover. These include provisions for propane gas supply, shared waste disposal facilities, and the acquisition of nearby land to accommodate a multi-million-gallon water storage tank.
Landscaping work is slated to begin by the end of June and will feature flowering plants and fruit trees, forming part of a broader food security initiative.
During the delegation's visit, the prime minister extended greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and announced plans to travel to China early next year to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Browne described the Booby Alley project as a major social transformation effort, one that replaces substandard housing conditions with modern condominium units designed to improve the quality of life for low-income residents.
