New infrastructure development will add vast amounts of value to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy and already desirable quality of life, says Eustace Lake, Minister of Works and Housing. The ambitious minister with significant international experience has big plans in the pipeline, saying he aims to make the island-nation feel ten times its size. Whether it be a new airport development in Barbuda, major road rehabilitation projects in Antigua or a sewerage system that reaches the ports in St. John’s, the Ministry has identified the country’s most strategic projects.

How has your personal professional background helped shape your current vision at the Ministry?

I started working out of college for business process management company, a small firm built by my father. At the time, they weren’t sure where they wanted to take the organisation but one of the things I learned real quick was to look for the best professionals. I worked hard to find good people and we saw the benefits come in. My business philosophy is all about hard work and being able to look at an organisation and find the best ways to do things.

My experience in the USA in the private sector has helped significantly. Working in that environment acclimatised me to different types of businesses and how they work. I worked in several companies including Citibank. I worked there for four years, becoming operations manager, and that helped me to gain a thorough understanding of business and how it works depending on what you are attempting to accomplish. I had 800 employees and I created a training department to help individuals learn and become more specialised.

You are working with a British grant of $20 million to enhance the country’s road systems. What is your strategy for effectively deploying those funds?

We are waiting to confirm some details but internally we have set up what we need. Our project coordinator will be the voice of the unit so the public understands what we are doing. We have one engineer assigned to the group, the ministry director and a company that will be doing the work. They have already come in and studied the road rehabilitation project, but we need a fully clear understanding of what needs to be done before we execute. The movement will start after understanding how much land we need to acquire. However, we have already chosen the two most significant projects through a feasibility study, which will improve traffic flows and enable tourism. For example, we see particular benefits in turning the airport road into a four-lane highway, but the challenge with that is that we need to spend $8 million outside of what we have from the UK. 

What other foreseeable projects are coming up within the next couple of years that this ministry will carry out, and how much do you hope to secure from the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF)?

I don’t know if funding is going to be from the UK or elsewhere, but the biggest issue here when it comes to infrastructure is the roads. We are also looking to the Caribbean Development Bank for infrastructure financing. Another key project in the pipeline is the sewerage system in the city of St. John’s. I’ve already spoken to several key people to get it done, but it’s just a matter of us being able to say: “now is the time.” Our aim is to take the sewerage lines to the ports so we can help ships clear the sewage they have and move on.

Are you open to public-private partnerships with international firms?

I would absolutely consider working with a firm from overseas to get things done. It would be from a firm which takes an interest in infrastructure development and is able to get the project done. The finance is always a challenge, but if foreign investors take interest in the development and enable us to carry out all of our infrastructure development plans, we will literally have paradise on earth.

Tell me more about the “cruise masterplan” and the infrastructure that will go along with that? 

We’re looking to build a fifth pier; we already have four built and we want another one to accommodate more ships and allow them to dock up. We have also done some dredging, which expands our capacity to accommodate large boats, and I believe we have already attracted one of the world’s biggest boats to our shores. And once we have that pinned down, the plan is for us to be able to dock the ships and provide the necessary shopping and tours, but again all of it comes back to having the necessary roads to make the experience as smooth as possible. 

In December 2016 it was reported that the Prime Minister wished to welcome bids for an engineering firm to build a new international airport in Barbuda this year. What do you think a new airport will mean for Barbuda?

I remember back in 2010, before I was a minister, I had a dream of how Barbuda would be able to function. I remember telling the minister of Barbuda at the time that we have to create a hub for people to come in. So we talked about that, we talked about customs, about everything on the front-end to control the activity, and the role of government. But at that time, we didn’t have the money. Fortunately, however, we have some investors who are interested in Barbuda’s economy. Barbuda is like a blank board to be written on, so if you get it done right it will be phenomenal. It doesn’t matter who the government is or the agency in control; we have to put our best foot forward to manage it.

How does Antigua’s infrastructure, especially in relation to tourism, compare to that of other countries in the region?

Antigua is more developed than many neighbouring countries. We have a long history of development and the ministers who have been managing the island have been well trained and experienced in businesses.