Politics
2068 articles
Minister Joseph Represents Antigua and Barbuda at Berlin Climate Mobility Forum
Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Society Affairs Michael Joseph is representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum 2026, a two-day gathering of global leaders focused on climate adaptation and resilience. He is joined by Climate Ambassador Ruleta Camacho-Thomas as the country reaffirms its commitment to international climate action.
Humanitarian Vessel MV Dawn to Visit Antigua in August for Disaster Preparedness Training
The humanitarian vessel MV Dawn is scheduled to dock in Antigua this August as part of a disaster preparedness initiative led by Global Support and Development in partnership with the National Office of Disaster Services. The self-sufficient ship, equipped with advanced medical, communications, and water production capabilities, will be used for training exercises and stakeholder engagements.
Minister Johnson Pledges Full Support for Disaster Preparedness in Meeting with GSD Officials
Minister of State Hon. Kiz Johnson met with senior officials from humanitarian nonprofit Global Support and Development (GSD) to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda's disaster preparedness efforts and reaffirm a long-term partnership with the National Office of Disaster Services. The discussions covered public awareness, community resilience, and the country's role as a sub-regional disaster response hub within the OECS.
Team Antigua Island Girls Pledges EC$350,000 for Girls' Safe Haven
Team Antigua Island Girls has pledged EC$350,000 toward the construction of a multipurpose safe haven for girls, with Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Hon. Rawdon Turner confirming that construction will begin this summer. A Memorandum of Understanding between the team and the Ministry is expected to be finalised next week.
Parliament Passes Electronic Crimes Amendment, Hitting Telcos with Stiff Non-Compliance Fines
Parliament has passed amendments to the Electronic Crimes Act that compel telecommunications companies to hand over digital evidence to law enforcement, with fines of up to $100,000 and daily penalties for non-compliance. The bill, approved with bipartisan support, also extends coverage to cloud-stored data and grants the ONDCP explicit authority to request information under the legislation.
Attorney General Pushes for On-the-Spot Licence Suspensions as Fatal Accidents Bill Passes
Antigua and Barbuda's Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 passed in the Lower House on Tuesday, with Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin calling for immediate roadside licence suspensions for reckless drivers and an increase to the proposed $5,000 bereavement award. The legislation replaces laws largely unchanged since 1924 and extends liability to employers and site operators whose negligence results in death.
Parliament Passes Expanded Search-Warrant Powers Amid Rights Concerns
Parliament has passed the Magistrate's Court Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2026, expanding police search-warrant powers, after Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle raised concerns about potential infringements on individual rights. Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin defended the reforms as necessary to modernise the country's criminal justice system.
UWI Principal Calls for Broader Education Fund Built on Accountability
UWI Five Islands Principal Professor C. Justin Robinson has urged Prime Minister Gaston Browne's proposed education windfall tax to fund the entire education pipeline — from infant schools to universities — backed by public accountability measures and mandatory community service. Robinson, as reported by Antigua.news, argued that investing only in tertiary education while neglecting earlier stages simply perpetuates the gaps institutions are later forced to address.
Senator Parker Denies Criminal Links, Accuses PM Browne of Political Opportunism
Opposition Senator Malaka Parker has firmly denied any connection to a criminal investigation involving a close associate, and has accused Prime Minister Gaston Browne of using the matter to attack her reputation for political purposes. Parker also alleged that senior police officers may be acting under political direction to fabricate links between her and the case.
Parliament Passes Fatal Accidents Bill, Expanding Compensation Rights for Bereaved Families
Parliament has passed the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, modernizing legislation that dates to 1924 and introducing bereavement damages of up to $20,000 for families who lose loved ones due to another person's actions. Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle supported the bill while successfully advocating for amendments that expanded compensation eligibility to include children.
Parliament Passes Fatal Accidents Bill, Awarding Families Up to $20,000 for Bereavement
Parliament has passed the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, allowing families of accident victims to claim up to $20,000 in bereavement compensation — replacing a law more than a century old. Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin described the reform as a critical step in protecting the dependents of those killed due to another person's actions.
Barbuda MP Walker Hints Parliamentary Career May Be Nearing Its End
Barbuda MP Trevor Walker stunned the House of Representatives on Tuesday by declaring that his time in Parliament is "coming to an end," though he offered no details on when he plans to step down. The veteran legislator, one of Antigua and Barbuda's longest-serving elected officials, pledged nonetheless to serve Barbuda with "more vigor and more determination" during the current term.
Opposition Leader Pringle Apologizes to Speaker, Vows Respectful Conduct in New Parliamentary Term
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle apologized to Speaker Osbert Frederick for any past disrespect during his first address of the new parliamentary term, pledging a more respectful and constructive approach in the House of Representatives. Pringle also called for timely sharing of legislation with opposition members and greater balance in parliamentary proceedings.
House Speaker Pushes Back on Bias Claims During New Parliamentary Session
Speaker of the House Osbert Frederick rejected claims of bias during Tuesday's sitting of the House of Representatives, responding directly to newly sworn-in Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, who called for a more impartial approach to managing parliamentary debate.
Parents Demand Answers Over Irene B. Williams Secondary School Graduation Controversy
A group of parents and guardians of Irene B. Williams Secondary School graduates has published an open letter demanding financial transparency and accountability from school authorities over what they describe as a poorly managed and controversial graduation ceremony. The parents are calling for a full breakdown of funds collected, clarification on sponsorship arrangements, and a fair review of the event's refund policy.
Parliament Expands Search Warrant Powers, Including Sunday Executions
Parliament has passed the Magistrate's Court (Amendment) Bill 2026, expanding search warrant powers to cover all offences, permitting Sunday executions, and allowing seizure of evidence not specified in the original warrant. Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin piloted the legislation, arguing it modernizes investigative procedures while maintaining judicial oversight.
Parliament Passes Immigration Amnesty Bill Giving Undocumented Migrants Two Months to Regularise Status
Parliament has passed the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Bill 2026, launching a two-month amnesty programme from July 1 to August 31 that allows eligible undocumented migrants to regularise their status for a total fee of $650. Applicants must submit police records from every country of residence over the past four years, and those who have previously used amnesty programmes three times are ineligible.
Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador Formally Accredited in Qatar
Ambassador Theon Ali has formally presented his credentials to Qatar's Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, cementing Antigua and Barbuda's diplomatic presence in the Gulf state. The accreditation marks a new phase in bilateral cooperation spanning climate action, aviation, and sustainable development.
Concerned Parent Calls Out Graduation Fees and School Fundraising Burden
A concerned Antiguan parent has written an open letter to the Chief Education Officer calling out the increasing financial demands placed on families by schools, including entrance fees to attend graduation ceremonies. The letter, reported by Antigua News Room, urges the Ministry of Education to mandate fee transparency, end duplicative fundraising, and guarantee free graduation entry for families.
AG Calls for On-the-Spot Licence Suspensions as Parliament Passes Fatal Accidents Bill
Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin has called for on-the-spot driver's licence suspensions in fatal crash cases as Parliament passed the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, which introduces bereavement damages of up to EC$20,000 for qualifying family members.