The government has approved the engagement of an international coastal engineering firm to advance the planned Fort James Renaissance Park project, commissioning scientific studies that will shape the redevelopment of one of Antigua and Barbuda's most prominent beaches.
According to Antigua News Room, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced at Thursday's post-Cabinet media briefing that Cabinet approved the hiring of Smith Warner International Limited to conduct a comprehensive baseline coastal assessment and preliminary engineering design for Fort James Beach.
Merchant said the work follows the government's recent commitment of EC$5 million toward transforming Fort James into what it describes as a world-class recreational, tourism and cultural destination.
The coastal assessment is necessary, Merchant explained, because Fort James Beach has experienced varying levels of erosion over the years. Any redevelopment, he said, must be grounded in sound scientific analysis and engineering expertise.
The study will examine shoreline stability, erosion patterns, sediment movement, wave and current conditions, climate resilience, and the long-term sustainability of proposed interventions. Smith Warner International will serve as lead coastal engineering consultant, overseeing coastal process assessments, numerical modelling, options analysis, preliminary engineering designs, and recommendations for beach restoration and long-term shoreline stability.
Merchant said the consultancy team will collaborate with regional and international experts, as well as local stakeholders, to ensure proposed solutions are environmentally responsible, technically sound and suited to Antigua and Barbuda's specific coastal conditions.
Responding to questions after the briefing, Merchant clarified that the EC$5 million allocation represents only the initial investment in the project. The overall redevelopment is expected to cost "hundreds of millions of dollars" and will be financed through a combination of government funding and public-private partnerships.
The Fort James Renaissance Park project forms part of the administration's broader strategy to redevelop key tourism assets while expanding investment opportunities through private sector collaboration.
