Antigua and Barbuda’s long-awaited Chantel Alert System, designed to notify the public in cases of missing or abducted children, is set to launch in the coming weeks, government officials confirmed.

The system—named in memory of Chantel Crump, the young girl who was murdered 3 weeks ago—is modelled after the Amber Alert used in the United States and other countries. It will use a combination of mobile app notifications, media broadcasts, and police coordination to issue immediate alerts to the public when a child is reported missing and believed to be in danger.

At Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Ambassador Lionel Max Hurst, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the system is nearly ready for rollout following months of development and technical adjustments.

“It has taken longer than anticipated, but we are now in the final stages,” Hurst said. “The app component is functional, the protocols are in place, and we expect it will be operational within a matter of weeks.”

The system is being spearheaded by the Ministry of National Security, with support from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and other key stakeholders. It is expected to significantly improve the speed and scope of the response when a child goes missing, enabling faster information-sharing between authorities and the general public.

Delays in launching the system were previously attributed to technical issues and the need to coordinate across agencies. However, officials now say they are satisfied with the progress and readiness of the platform.

The Chantel Alert will complement other national security initiatives and is part of a broader strategy to enhance child protection mechanisms in the country. Members of the public will be encouraged to download the app and remain vigilant in responding to alerts when they are issued.