ST. JOHN'S, Antigua — Independent Senator Jamilla Kirwan is urging lawmakers to broaden the national conversation around fatal accidents to include psychological support for bereaved families, arguing that financial compensation alone cannot address the lasting trauma suffered by those left behind.
According to Antigua News Room, Kirwan made the remarks during Senate debate on the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 — legislation that repeals the country's 1924 Fatal Accidents Act and establishes a modern framework for compensation in cases where death results from wrongful conduct.
While expressing support for the bill, Kirwan stressed that emotional and mental health care must also be considered. "While I appreciate that grief counseling falls outside the scope of this particular bill, I believe this debate presents an opportunity to recognize an important reality," she said. "The sudden loss of a loved one, particularly a parent, a spouse, or a child, can have profound psychological effects on those left behind."
Kirwan directed particular attention to the impact of fatal accidents on children, warning that unresolved grief carries serious long-term consequences. "Children especially may struggle to process this trauma and without appropriate grief support… the grief can affect them emotionally, education-wise, and their overall development in years to come," she told the Senate.
Referring to incidents that have occurred in Antigua and Barbuda, she noted that some children have witnessed the deaths of parents or loved ones firsthand. "It does not take a psychologist to appreciate that experiences of that nature can have profound and lasting effects on a child's emotional well-being," Kirwan said. "Trauma can manifest itself in many different ways, and the journey through grief is often long and complex."
The senator also raised concerns about the bill's proposed maximum bereavement payment of $20,000, cautioning that inflation could erode its value over time. Drawing on her personal experience of recently losing both of her parents, Kirwan noted that funeral costs have risen sharply in recent years.
"Perhaps therefore, consideration can be given to periodically reviewing the maximum bereavement award, so that it continues to reflect economic realities and does not, over time, again become outdated," she said.
