GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR NEW POWER PLANT…. A groundbreaking ceremony took place last Thursday at Crabbs Peninsula for the new Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) power plant to be built by the Chinese government. The plant is intended to supply 30 megawatts of power will be situated next to the Hadeed-owned Antigua Power Company (APC) plant. The company has the government before the court.

The government secured a loan of $43M from the Chinese government through the (Export and Import) Exim Bank with a two per cent interest rate to be repaid within 20 years with a grace period of five years for the construction of the plant. The Beijing Construction Engineering Group will undertake the construction. United Progressive Party supporters, government officials and representatives of the Chinese government turned out in their numbers to witness the turning of the sod to signal the commencement of construction.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, General Manager of APUA Esworth Martin, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of APUA Clarvis Joseph, Non-Resident Ambassador David Shoul and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China Chen Liang were just a few of the dignitaries present at what was described as a very historic occasion.

Prime Minister Spencer said this new plant signals the beginning of a new APUA. “It will be a major boost to APUA truly being the master of its own destiny,” Spencer told the gathering. According to Spencer, the ground- breaking may not be the immediate remedy to the current situation but it is a sure foundation for the future.