Crematorium by Canadian-Antiguans is on the cards, while critics say local operator was ‘bad-played’

Two Canadian-Antiguan entrepreneurs reportedly were invited to
Cabinet recently to discuss their plans to build a crematorium here,
while some residents are claiming that a local funeral-home
operator has been “bad-played.”

According to the Cabinet Notes published Monday morning, there
are about 600 deaths ever year, with most persons being buried in
the church and public cemeteries around the island.

“Very few are cremated, since that requires shipping the cadaver to
another Caribbean island where that service is available,” the Notes
observe.

Accordingly, the Executive states, the two female entrepreneurs –
who reportedly “have won many awards for their funeral services in
Canada” – have determined that a market exists for a crematorium
Antigua and Barbuda.

It appears that the Cabinet has already given consent, as the Notes
say “the attorney-general and the minister of health will
collaborate to ensure that the appropriate legislation is adopted by
the Parliament.”

It also appears that the private enterprise will be sited within the
new public cemetery since the Notes report that fencing on the
south and west at the Tomlinsons site is being prepared, while
roadways and plots are being prepared according to plan.
Those alleging “bad play” claim that the homegrown owner of a
funeral

home had sought the Government’s permission to build a
crematorium.

However, because it could not be built on her current site – which
has been identified for another development – she had been
promised land in a different location for that purpose, sources say.
In the meantime, Sir Molwyn Joseph, minister of health, announced
that the Government would be including a crematorium in its state-
of- the- art new cemetery.

Now, years later, with the disclosure that the Canadian-Antiguans
should be establishing a facility here, residents tell REAL News the
Cabinet agreement is “unfair” to the local operator, who already has
given years of service to this country.

If the plans go through, they say, it will be because “some minister
getting a cutback.”

However it goes, the Cabinet Notes say the new cemetery is
expected to resemble a large garden, rather than “a dreary place full
of foreboding.”