A new initiative will make hurricane shutters more accessible to vulnerable households in Antigua and Barbuda, with over 1,000 shutter sheets available for purchase at a significantly reduced cost.

The Cabinet announced Thursday that the Department of the Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Urban Renewal, is finalizing a distribution plan for the sheets, which are being offered at a 75 percent discount. Each sheet will be sold for EC$62.50.

The shutter sheets—each capable of producing three to four window shutters—are part of the government’s broader disaster resilience agenda ahead of the 2025 hurricane season.

“These items were procured through a comprehensive proposal outlining their need, targeted beneficiaries, and planned distribution,” said Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications. “There are policy documents that will guide this process.”

Officials emphasized that the program is designed to ensure fairness in distribution, with priority given to those most at risk in storm-prone communities.

Further details on how residents can apply or purchase the sheets will be released in the coming weeks.

The program forms part of a larger set of climate resilience projects funded through the Sustainable Island Resource Framework (SIRF) Fund and the Green Climate Fund.