Posted on March 3, 2025
The revelation that the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) will finance dredging operations in the North Sound area currently being undertaken by Blue Ocean, has raised questions about the allocation of financial responsibility for the infrastructure project.
The dredging work, which extends to the Crabb’s peninsula area, aims to accommodate larger vessels carrying cement—a material in high demand by local contractors—and ships transporting Liquid Natural Gas (LNG).
During Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, reporters questioned why APUA has assumed financial responsibility for the project as, previously, payments to the dredging company were reportedly handled by another entity before APUA assumed responsibility.
Blue Ocean will collaborate with Dutch Dredging to expedite the completion timeline.
Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lionel Hurst, who defended the arrangement, said: “It’s an opportunity for APUA to spend some of its reserves on a very necessary improvement that will lead to even lower greenhouse gases being emitted from the production of electricity in Antigua.”
Hurst added that dredging operations in St John’s Harbour are being financed separately by the Antigua Port Authority.
When asked to comment on APUA’s new financial obligations, United Progressive Party (UPP) Deputy Political Leader Sherfield Bowen said he could not fairly comment on the situation, since he has no knowledge of the arrangements.
“The government has a policy of not disclosing much of the information that one would need to know in order to make a sound contribution to the debate,” Bowen said.
“This question is asked in a vacuum because I do not have the information about what is the quid pro quo with respect to APUA and the power plant and the shippers,” he added.
Bowen further questioned the timing of this financial commitment.
“We just approved a loan for APUA for reorganization and for funding of APUA’s activities. Now, if APUA is lacking in money to fund its operations, I do not understand why it would be burdened with the cost that is attributable to another company,” he concluded.
