Prime Minister Gaston Browne says C.O. Williams must correct defective roadworks at its own expense after the Public Works Department identified problems with sections of recently paved roads.

Browne addressed the issue Saturday during the Browne and Browne Show. He responded to complaints about roads that have developed defects or required additional work soon after paving.

The prime minister said the government awarded the contract through a competitive tender process. The project forms part of approximately $100 million in financing from the Caribbean Development Bank.

Browne explained that the government did not directly choose C.O. Williams for the project. Instead, the contractor won the contract after competing through the required tender process.

He said projects financed through Caribbean Development Bank loans must follow a competitive procurement process. According to Browne, C.O. Williams emerged as the successful bidder.

However, the prime minister acknowledged concerns about the quality of some of the recent roadworks. He said the amount of rutting seen on several roads during the paving programme was serious.

Public Works officials inspected the affected areas and identified sections that did not meet the required standard. The department then instructed C.O. Williams to redo the defective work.

Browne stressed that taxpayers would not have to cover the cost of correcting the problems. He said the contractor must carry out the necessary repairs using its own funds.

The prime minister rejected any suggestion that the government had assigned Public Works crews to repair the contractor’s work with additional public money.

He said C.O. Williams received clear instructions from Public Works after officials determined that some roads had not been paved properly. The company must therefore return to the affected areas and correct the defects.

The comments come amid continued public concern over road conditions across Antigua and Barbuda. Road improvements have been a major focus of the government, with several areas receiving new pavement under the ongoing programme.

Poorly completed roadworks can create safety risks for motorists and lead to further costs if contractors do not correct defects. The government’s position is that contractors must meet the standards set out in their agreements.

Browne’s comments also highlight the role of Public Works officials in monitoring projects after contractors complete roadwork. The department can identify problems and require contractors to address work that fails to meet the required standard.

For now, C.O. Williams is expected to redo the affected sections without additional payment from the government. Browne said the contractor must correct the defective work at its own expense.