The government of Antigua and Barbuda has confirmed that funding from the Dominican Republic for the construction of a new primary school in Barbuda has been secured, with plans to relocate the facility to a safer, elevated site.

Chief of Staff Lionel Max Hurst announced at Monday’s post-Cabinet briefing that the funds, provided following Hurricane Irma in 2017, are now held in the Treasury.

He said the Cabinet has approved the relocation of the school to Louis Hill, citing persistent flooding at the current Holy Trinity Primary School site as a key reason for the move.

“The idea is to place the school where the new Louis Hill development will be, so that children living in that community will have easy access to education in a safe environment,” Hurst said.

He explained that the Dominican Republic, which initially offered to rebuild the school directly, later opted to provide a financial contribution instead.

The government will now oversee the construction process.

The new school forms part of a wider development plan for Louis Hill, where new homes and businesses are also expected to be established. Hurst noted that building in an elevated area would minimise disruption during future storms, addressing long-standing vulnerabilities in Barbuda’s infrastructure.

Further details on the design and construction timeline are expected to be announced later this year.

The Holy Trinity Primary School was heavily damaged during Hurricane Irma, which caused widespread destruction across Barbuda and led to the temporary evacuation of the island’s entire population.