United Progressive Party All Saints West caretaker Harold Lovell is calling for an independent highways and roads authority, arguing that road building in Antigua and Barbuda has become overly politicised and lacks long-term planning.

Speaking on Observer Radio on Monday, Lovell said residents in All Saints West continue to complain about deteriorating inner roads once they turn off the main routes. He said the country’s expanding vehicle traffic makes planning urgent, but maintained there is no clear national strategy for road development, prioritisation and congestion relief.

Lovell said he would advocate for an “independent highways and roads authority or commission,” contending that roads “have become politicized” and decisions should be driven by technical planning rather than political considerations.

He also raised drainage as a recurring failure point, saying repairs are often short-lived because water management is not addressed alongside roadworks. As an example, he referenced repeated patching along the Buckley Line area and described the government’s approach as “drip, drip,” rather than a coordinated fix designed to last.

Lovell argued that a structured, independent body could set priorities based on need and usage, develop a multi-year plan, and ensure road construction is integrated with proper drainage design to prevent ongoing damage and repeated spending.

WATCH: UPP All Saints West caretaker Harold Lovell says road repairs are being handled in a political, piecemeal way — and he’s calling for an independent highways and roads authority to plan and manage road construction and maintenance