By Samantha Simon
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In a significant development aimed at providing additional choices for grieving families, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed two entrepreneurs of Antiguan descent residing in Canada.
The female duo, who have garnered numerous accolades for their funeral services in Canada, are now set to return to their homeland. Their mission? To establish a crematorium, offering the people of Antigua and Barbuda an alternative to traditional burials.
Currently, the island nation sees approximately 600 deaths annually, with the majority of individuals being laid to rest in cemeteries scattered across the region. Cremations, however, are rarely chosen due to the logistical challenges of transporting the deceased to other Caribbean islands where such services are available.
Recognizing this unmet need, the two entrepreneurial women are embarking on a mission to change the status quo. Armed with extensive experience and numerous awards, they aim to make cremations more accessible in Antigua and Barbuda.
To pave the way for this endeavour, the Attorney General and the Minister of Health will collaborate to ensure that the necessary legislation is introduced and adopted by the Parliament. This legal framework will facilitate the establishment and operation of the proposed crematorium.
Moreover, the Minister of Works reported promising developments at the Public Cemetery in Tomlinson’s. The cemetery’s transformation is well underway, including the installation of fencing on the south and west sides of the premises, and the preparation of roadways, and plots that align with the design plan. The new cemetery aims to provide a serene and garden-like atmosphere, in stark contrast to traditional notions of cemeteries.
Antigua and Barbuda eagerly await this progressive change in the funeral service landscape, which promises to offer grieving families a dignified and accessible alternative for their loved ones’ final journey.
