The World Bank to assist with Port Expansion

The World Bank will be assisting the twin island state with funding to develop and expand the nation’s Port.

Minister of Public Works with responsibility for the Port Authority, the Hon. Trevor Walker while making his contribution to the 2014 Budget debate in the Lower House, says representatives from the international body will arrive on island on Thursday to conduct assessment meetings with management.

He details that the implementations of prior recommendations have began at the facility, but there is still a lot of work that has to be completed before new development can take place.

Minister Walker says Antigua and Barbuda will benefit significantly from the arrangement.

The Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority Deepwater Harbour was originally constructed in 1967 and opened for business in 1968. The port was planned and developed as a facility for handling break bulk cargo.

The constraints of the original design are increasingly impacting the present day operational efficiency.