Local News
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Inland Revenue Department Reports EC$38M Revenue Surge in First Half of 2026
The Inland Revenue Department collected EC$377.9 million in the first half of 2026, a EC$38 million increase over the same period in 2025, driven by stronger enforcement and improved tax administration.
ECCB Replaces Queen's Image with Regional Heroes on New EC Dollar Banknotes
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled a redesigned set of EC dollar banknotes replacing Queen Elizabeth II's image with ten regional heroes, marking the currency's 50th anniversary. As reported by Antigua.news, the new notes are expected to enter circulation alongside existing currency in 2026 or 2027.
Man Sentenced to Six Years for Raping Blackmailed 12-Year-Old Girl
A man in his late 20s has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl he blackmailed with an explicit video. Sole Spencer was convicted in the High Court on two counts of serious indecency and one count of sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 14.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to Six Years for Raping 12-Year-Old
Sole Spencer, a repeat sex offender in his late twenties, has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old girl he blackmailed with an inappropriate video. It is his second conviction for sexual offences against a minor.
Antigua and Barbuda Makes Historic First UN Secretary-General Nomination Since Independence
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that Antigua and Barbuda has formally nominated María Fernanda Espinosa for UN Secretary-General, marking the first time since Independence the country has put forward a candidate for the world's highest diplomatic office. The announcement followed the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Saint Lucia.
Antigua Conducts Major Security Lockdown Drill Ahead of CHOGM 2026
Antiguan authorities carried out a large-scale security simulation in St. John's on Friday, temporarily locking down key government facilities and restricting traffic as part of preparations for CHOGM 2026. The drill, which ran from 06:00 to midday, tested emergency response and coordination between security agencies.
St. John's Locked Down for CHOGM 2026 Security Simulation Exercise
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has imposed a hard lockdown across parts of St. John's from 6:00 a.m. to noon today as part of a major security simulation exercise ahead of CHOGM 2026. Several key government institutions are inaccessible during the exercise, with police urging the public to avoid the restricted zone.
LETTER: EU's CBI Ultimatum Is Economic Aggression Against Caribbean Sovereignty
In a letter published by Antigua News Room, commentator Mike Browne argues that the EU's 2028 deadline to eliminate Citizenship by Investment programmes in the Eastern Caribbean represents economic coercion, not a genuine security measure, and calls on Brussels to provide credible alternative revenue pathways before demanding abolition.
CIP Nations to Meet Friday on Unified Response to EU Visa Ultimatum
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that CIP-operating nations will meet Friday to craft a joint response to the EU, following a formal request that Antigua and Barbuda phase out its citizenship by investment programme by 2028. The EU's revised visa suspension mechanism now treats the mere operation of such schemes as grounds for suspending visa-free access.
Urgent Call for Blood Donors to Save Antiguan Man at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre
Health officials and family members are making an urgent appeal for blood donations to help Leadi Fabian Hunt, who requires transfusions at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to visit the hospital immediately, with B-positive and O-negative donors particularly needed.
Hughes: US Dictated Deportee Deal, Antigua and Barbuda Never Truly Negotiated
UPP Senator Chester Hughes has accused the Browne administration of accepting rather than negotiating Antigua and Barbuda's third-country deportee arrangement with the United States, arguing the country was presented with terms and that the public was kept in the dark until after the MOU was signed.
Antiguan Officials Take on Key Technical Roles at ECVA U20 Beach Volleyball Championship
Three Antigua and Barbuda volleyball officials have been appointed to key technical positions at the 2026 ECVA Under-20 Beach Volleyball Championship, underscoring the nation's growing influence in regional volleyball administration.
Antigua Hosts Rotaract District 7030 Conference for First Time in Over 20 Years
The Rotaract Club of Antigua welcomed nearly 200 young leaders from across the Caribbean for the 2026 Rotaract District 7030 Conference, the event's first return to the island in over 20 years. The four-day gathering focused on leadership, regional collaboration, and community service under the theme "Linked in Wadadli."
Pringle Calls TCN White Paper a 'Legal Trap,' Demands Release of MOU
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has described the government's white paper on third-country nationals as a "legal trap," warning that the absence of a refugee act leaves transferred individuals with no legal resolution. Pringle is demanding the release of the underlying MOU and US operating procedures before Parliament debates the matter next week.
Injured Senior Sergeant Benjamin Set for Medical Evacuation to Trinidad
The Police Welfare Association confirms that all arrangements for the medical evacuation of Senior Sergeant Jeffery Benjamin to Trinidad and Tobago are in place, pending only final confirmation of an aircraft. Benjamin, a nearly 30-year veteran of the force, was severely injured in a traffic accident.
Ex-Police Chief Warns Antigua Unprepared to Accept Third-Country Deportees
Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Nuffield Burnette has warned that Antigua and Barbuda is ill-equipped to receive third-country deportees from the United States, citing existing policing failures and the absence of laws to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees. Burnette made the remarks at a UPP town hall meeting examining the government's White Paper on the proposed arrangement.
Pringle Accuses Government of Caving to US Terms on Deportee Deal
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has accused the Browne administration of failing to negotiate favorable terms in a proposed US deportee agreement, arguing that the government committed Antigua and Barbuda to the arrangement without securing key protections or releasing the MOU to the public.
Cost Pro Workers Fear They Will Not Receive Severance After Supermarket's Abrupt Closure
Workers at the now-closed Cost Pro Supermarket say they fear they may not receive outstanding wages, severance, and other benefits after being abruptly handed termination letters following the company's sudden shutdown. Staff have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the notices and cited alleged prior incidents involving the same owner.
CostPro Workers Speak Out After Sudden Supermarket Closure Left Them Jobless
CostPro supermarket employees were blindsided on Thursday when they returned for an evening shift only to receive termination letters informing them the business was closing immediately. Dozens of workers are now left uncertain about their futures following the abrupt closure.
ABWU to Meet Cost Pro Workers After Supermarket Shuts Without Warning
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union is set to meet Cost Pro Supermarket employees on Friday after the business closed without warning, leaving staff anxious over unpaid wages and severance benefits. Workers received termination letters dated 9 July, with payment statements promised by 17 July.