Antigua and Barbuda’s redeveloped Deep Water Harbour port is now open for business.

The US$90-million port was constructed by Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Work began in 2018 but was beset by delays, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.

The new facility is the only container terminal port in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which is an international inter-governmental organisation dedicated to regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean (OECS), enabling it to provide services to neighbouring countries.

NEW CRUISE BERTH

The port now boasts a new cruise berth, cargo and logistics facilities and other amenities. Offices have also been built to house Customs and Excise, the Plant Protection Unit, Immigration and other services to prevent customers being forced to journey into St John’s and back.

Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister, Gaston Browne, has explained that the new facility will place the country on a footing to becoming a transshipment spot for the Eastern Caribbean.

Speaking at the port’s official opening ceremony last week, Port Authority CEO Darwin Telemaque spoke of the “momentous journey” towards the port’s completion, adding that the facility now had “all the makings for an excellent future”.