With an interim Coordinator in place the Minister of Communications Works & Labour the Hon Paul Lewis reportedly visited Antigua on Wednesday to explore ways to improve the conditions at the ferry port there.
The minister travelled by ferry and was accompanied by a contingent of twelve persons including the interim Access Coordinator David ‘Trixie’ Duberry, Parliamentary Secretary the Hon Gregory Willock, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Beverly Mendes, and tourism officials among others.
While in Antigua, the Minister and his contingent met and held discussions with the Antigua acting port manager, the chief immigration officer, and CEO of the airport authority. The Minister availed himself with the opportunity to become familiar with the systems in place for travel by the ferry, the issues involved and how to make travel smoother to and from the island.
Lewis told ZJB News that his mission was partly fact finding to understand what is actually on the ground in terms of facilities for the port that actually facilitate the ferry’ “…and of course we are looking to improve the conditions as the passengers wait to board the ferry.”
Other reports on the Antigua visit says Lewis’ team explored the possibility of leasing the facilities (and in particular the building that formerly house “The Coast Restaurant”) near the Ferry Port to serve as a passenger lounge.
Walter Christopher is the Permanent Secretary of Works and Housing in Antigua, and 
he outlined the plans for the ferry port and the environs there. He said: “Essentially what we’re trying to do is to have a facility where the Montserratians (passengers) can be housed [in], almost like a departure lounge area,” explaining, “Instead of going on the pier itself, they’ll have an area where they can relax, have bathroom facilities, a concession area…”
Christopher said further that he will work on behalf of the Montserratians of course to have the facility refurbished, “so that we can have a proper place for them to relax during their transit to Montserrat especially during the high seas,” advising that all should be in place by the end of November, “so that they can have a comfortable journey to Montserrat from wherever they’re coming.”
