St. John’s Port was constructed in 1968 and opened to commercial traffic in 1969. It was designed as a “break bulk” terminal, meaning that goods had to be loaded or unloaded individually (e.g. in bags, boxes, crates, etc.), rather than transported in intermodal containers. In 1971, containerization reached the Eastern Caribbean, and by that time St. John’s port was already outdated in terms of its functionality. However, it was constructed with a 50-year cycle in mind, so Antigua and Barbuda was left stuck with an old-fashioned type of operation. The modernization of St. John’s has been necessary for decades but it only started to progress once China deepened its relationship with Antigua & Barbuda.
In December 2014, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced that the port would be completely rebuilt with a $255 million investment from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which committed to providing funding, manpower, and technical expertise. In 2015 the Antigua Port Authority signed a financing agreement with CCEECC to begin maintenance dredging of St John’s harbor. This work was then reportedly undertaken by Trinidad-based ANSA Technologies and in conjunction with Dutch firm Boskalis and fellow RS Hydrographic Services, also of Trinidad.
In January 2018, The Antigua and Barbuda government awarded a US$90 million contract to CCECC to construct a cargo port and cruise ship harbor. The state-owned Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) is financing the development. Construction began in April 2018 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2021.The updated port will include an expanded quay, a new warehouse for processing goods, an extended sea wall, and other amenities.
In 2020, construction continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The satellite image below demonstrates that as of July, the 320-meter quay expansion and the new warehouse have already been completed.
China-Antigua and Barbuda Relations: Key Events (Timeline)
1981: On 1 November, Antigua and Barbuda is granted independence from the United Kingdom.
1983: China establishes diplomatic relations with Antigua and Barbuda.
2014: PM Gaston Browne vowed to transform Antigua and Barbuda into an “economic powerhouse”. He announced that St. John’s Port (Antigua) would be completely rebuilt with a $255 million investment from China. He also welcomed Chinese investor Yida Zhang to and agreed on the Yida Project which includes various industrial developments.
2015: The Antigua Port Authority signed a financing agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to begin maintenance dredging of St John’s harbor.
2017: Hurricane Irma devastated Antigua and Barbuda, destroying approximately 90% of properties on the island of Barbuda. The Chinese government as well as Chinese investors offered considerable financial assistance to the country. Private investments dwarfed state aid. Some of the new projects being developed have sparked concerns over the environmental impact of Chinese investment.
2018: In January, PM Gaston Browne invited the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to invest more with the Government and suggested that CCECC creates its regional headquarters in the country. In June, Antigua and Barbuda became the first country in the eastern Caribbean to sign up for China’s Belt and Road initiative.
2020: The US urged Caribbean countries not to accept gifts from China, with Mike Pompeo personally delivering this message. However, Instead of offering financial assistance to the economically challenged Antigua and Barbuda, the US is threatened to withhold assistance to its Defence Force over an unpaid loan. In April residents of Antigua reported that the Yida Project continues. In July, Antigua and Barbuda backed the new Hong Kong national security law in the UN. In October, Information Minister Melford Nicholas characterized China as an “important partner” for the twin island nation.
