Business
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Airport Authority to Fell Three Mahogany Trees in Final Push to Complete $50M Runway Upgrade
The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority will remove three mahogany trees along the Sir George Walter Highway on Sunday as the US$50 million VC Bird International Airport runway rehabilitation project enters its final phase. The trees have been found to obstruct the Air Traffic Control Tower's sightlines and show signs of termite infestation and structural deterioration.
Airport Authority to Remove Three Mahogany Trees Along Airport Highway for Aviation Safety
The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority will remove three Mahogany trees along the Sir George Walter Highway this Sunday, citing critical aviation safety requirements as the US$50 million airfield rehabilitation project nears completion. A forestry assessment also found the trees structurally compromised by termite activity, posing additional risk to road users and airport personnel.
ECCB Doubles Food Security Commitment to EC$50 Million with New Grant Approval
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council has approved a further EC$25 million grant for food and nutrition security, doubling its total commitment to the initiative to EC$50 million. The funding was approved at the Council's 113th meeting in Dominica as part of the ECCB's "Big Push" economic strategy.
Antigua, CARICOM Nations to Explore Regional Insurance Plan for Hotels and Hospitals
Caribbean leaders, including Antigua and Barbuda, have agreed to explore a regional insurance strategy to expand catastrophe coverage for hotels, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. A dedicated CARICOM Reinsurance Task Force will be established to advance the initiative.
ECCB Warns Global Uncertainty Threatens Tourism and Economic Growth in Eastern Caribbean
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council has warned that geopolitical tensions, oil price volatility and global trade uncertainty could slow tourism and economic growth across the region, even as visitor arrivals rose 9 percent in early 2026.
ECCB Pushes Forward on Instant Cross-Border Payments for Caribbean Region
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council has received updates on two major payment initiatives — the CAPSS Pilot and Fast Payment System — designed to enable instant cross-border transactions and expand financial inclusion across the Caribbean. As reported by Antigua News Room, both projects are flagship components of the ECCB's "Big Push" economic strategy.
Regional CBI Regulatory Authority on Track for September 2026 Launch
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council has confirmed that the new regional citizenship by investment regulatory authority, ECCIRA, remains on track to launch in September 2026. The update follows the Council's 113th meeting in Dominica, where regional finance ministers reviewed progress on the initiative.
PM Browne Champions Plan to Double Eastern Caribbean Economy in Seven Years
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has endorsed a regional plan to double the Eastern Caribbean economy to EC$50 billion within seven years, backing ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine's "Big Push" vision at this week's Monetary Council meeting in Dominica. The initiative includes a newly approved ECCB Strategic Plan for 2026–2031 and a proposed regional airline, OECS Air.
Agriculture Ministry Interns Get Hands-On Poultry Training at Local Farms
Interns in the Ministry of Agriculture's Summer Internship Programme visited Pelle Farm and the All Saints Secondary School Farm this week, gaining hands-on experience in poultry breeds, production methods and food safety practices. The field visit formed part of a broader programme designed to build technical agricultural skills and encourage youth interest in the sector.
Agriculture Ministry Interns Get Hands-On Poultry Training at Local Farms
The Ministry of Agriculture's Summer Internship Programme took participants to Pelle Farm and the All Saints Secondary School Farm this week, where interns received hands-on training in poultry breeds, production methods, breeding practices and food safety as part of the programme's ongoing field activities.
ABWU Backs Displaced Costpro Workers, Demands Severance Protection Law
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union has pledged to pursue all legal avenues to secure severance and other entitlements for over 100 workers displaced by the sudden closure of Costpro Supermarket. The union has also renewed its call on the government to enact Severance Protection Legislation to prevent workers from facing similar uncertainty in the future.
Weatherills Hotel Nominated for Caribbean's Best Brunch Venue at World Culinary Awards
Weatherills Hotel has been nominated for Caribbean's Best Brunch Venue 2026 at the World Culinary Awards, bringing international attention to Antigua and Barbuda's culinary scene. The public is invited to cast votes in support of the local property.
Antigua's Inland Revenue Collects EC$377.9M in First Half of 2026
Antigua and Barbuda's Inland Revenue Department collected EC$377.9 million in the first half of 2026, up EC$38 million from the same period last year. The department credited stronger enforcement, expanded audits, and improved taxpayer compliance for the gains.
Inland Revenue Department Reports EC$38M Revenue Surge in First Half of 2026
The Inland Revenue Department collected EC$377.9 million in the first half of 2026, a EC$38 million increase over the same period in 2025, driven by stronger enforcement and improved tax administration.
ECCB Replaces Queen's Image with Regional Heroes on New EC Dollar Banknotes
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled a redesigned set of EC dollar banknotes replacing Queen Elizabeth II's image with ten regional heroes, marking the currency's 50th anniversary. As reported by Antigua.news, the new notes are expected to enter circulation alongside existing currency in 2026 or 2027.
Cost Pro Workers Fear They Will Not Receive Severance After Supermarket's Abrupt Closure
Workers at the now-closed Cost Pro Supermarket say they fear they may not receive outstanding wages, severance, and other benefits after being abruptly handed termination letters following the company's sudden shutdown. Staff have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the notices and cited alleged prior incidents involving the same owner.
CostPro Workers Speak Out After Sudden Supermarket Closure Left Them Jobless
CostPro supermarket employees were blindsided on Thursday when they returned for an evening shift only to receive termination letters informing them the business was closing immediately. Dozens of workers are now left uncertain about their futures following the abrupt closure.
ABWU to Meet Cost Pro Workers After Supermarket Shuts Without Warning
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union is set to meet Cost Pro Supermarket employees on Friday after the business closed without warning, leaving staff anxious over unpaid wages and severance benefits. Workers received termination letters dated 9 July, with payment statements promised by 17 July.
Eastern Caribbean Nations Face 2028 Deadline to Wind Down Citizenship by Investment Programs
The European Commission has formally requested that five Eastern Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, phase out their Citizenship by Investment programs by June 2028 — a deadline that puts billions in public revenue at stake and forces a reckoning over what comes next. A new commentary examines both sides of the dispute and argues the region's creation of a unified regulatory authority deserves recognition as a foundation for negotiation.
Sir VC Bird and Dame Eugenia Charles to Feature on New EC $20 Banknote
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled redesigned banknotes replacing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II with national heroes from across the region, including Antigua and Barbuda's Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. and Dame Mary Eugenia Charles on the new $20 note. The historic redesign follows public consultations held across the ECCU in 2023.