Attorney-at-Law E. Ann Henry is urging stronger civil society engagement in Antigua and Barbuda's policy-making process, warning that the public has become too passive on issues that directly affect their lives.
According to Antigua Observer, Henry made the remarks while appearing on Observer Media's The Big Issues program, where she stressed that civil society organizations — ranging from professional associations to community groups — must take a more active role in shaping national policy.
Henry's comments shine a spotlight on a growing concern among legal and civic professionals in Antigua and Barbuda: that ordinary citizens and organized groups are increasingly disengaged from the democratic processes that govern their daily lives.
She argued that meaningful public participation is not merely a civic virtue but a necessary component of sound governance. Without it, she suggested, policy decisions risk being made without adequate reflection of the needs and priorities of the broader population.
Henry's call to action comes as Antigua and Barbuda continues to navigate a range of pressing social and economic challenges, making the need for informed, engaged civic voices all the more critical.
