Local News
4638 articles
Letter: Call to Triple Social Security Funeral Disbursements Amid Rising Costs
A resident is calling on Social Security to raise its funeral disbursement from $2,500 to at least $7,500, citing rising costs and inflation. The appeal follows the Senate's passage of a bill providing up to $20,000 to families of fatal accident victims.
Kiwanis Club Launches 'Bright Eyes' Project to Provide Free Vision Care for Vulnerable Students
The Kiwanis Club of Antigua AR Fusion has launched the Bright Eyes project, committing EC$12,000 to provide free comprehensive eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses to twenty vulnerable students across Antigua and Barbuda. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with Dr. Salem Zreibi of Progressive Vision and the Ministry of Education's Student Support Unit.
Antigua and Barbuda Reaffirms Commitment to Caribbean Security at 35th Regional Intelligence Meeting
Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed its support for Caribbean regional intelligence cooperation at the opening of the 35th Regional Intelligence Meeting in St. John's on Wednesday. Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin, standing in for Prime Minister Gaston Browne, called for stronger collaboration to combat transnational crime, cybercrime and other growing security threats.
Two Men Shot in Grays Farm; One Critical After Chest Wound
Two Grays Farm men were shot on Tuesday evening and are now receiving treatment at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, with one victim in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest. Police have opened an investigation but have yet to release an official statement.
Two Teens Shot on Station Street in Grays Farm Tuesday Evening
Two teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, were shot on Station Street in Grays Farm on Tuesday evening and transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre for treatment. Police have opened an investigation, though no suspects or motive have been identified.
Sir Hilary Beckles to Headline Antigua's Emancipation Watchnight Gathering
The Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission has announced that Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, will headline the annual Watchnight Gathering on July 31, 2026, at the Botanical Gardens. The event is part of a broader series of 2026 Emancipation Observances culminating on August 1 with Emancipation Day.
ABTA Opens Call for Artists as Antigua and Barbuda Art Week Returns in 2026
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has launched a call for artists and creatives to participate in the fourth edition of Antigua and Barbuda Art Week, set for November 11–18, 2026. Expressions of interest from exhibitors, venues and event hosts must be submitted by July 30, 2026.
Caribbean Corporate Games to Open August Activation Weekend to Families and Local Clubs
The Caribbean Corporate Games will host a community activation weekend in Antigua from August 28 to 30, open to families and local sporting clubs, ahead of the main Games in June 2027. President Lisa Weston confirmed five sports for the summer weekend, with organisers targeting a minimum of 12 sports for the full programme.
ABRSC Names Winners of 2026 Reparatory Justice Essay Competition
The Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission has announced the winners of its 2026 Essay Competition, recognising top students from universities, colleges, and secondary schools across the nation. The competition was held under the theme "Reparatory Justice: Reflection and Projection."
WhatsApp Set to Allow Users to Connect via Usernames, Dropping Phone Number Requirement
WhatsApp is developing a feature that will allow users to connect via unique usernames instead of phone numbers, marking one of the platform's most significant privacy updates to date. According to Antigua.news, the feature is still under development with no official release date announced.
Antigua Launches Three-Month Immigration Amnesty for Irregular Residents
Antigua and Barbuda's government has launched a three-month immigration amnesty programme, running from July 1 to September 30, giving eligible non-nationals with irregular status the opportunity to legalise their stay under the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2026. Applicants must meet a minimum four-year residency requirement and pay fees totalling EC$650.
St. Kitts Fugitive With Active Arrest Warrant Believed to Be Hiding in Antigua
A 44-year-old Jamaican national wanted by St. Kitts and Nevis police on an active arrest warrant is believed to have travelled to Antigua. Local authorities are appealing to the public for help in locating him.
ECCB: Eastern Caribbean Banks Stay Resilient Amid Global Economic Turbulence
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank reports that commercial banks across the Currency Union remained well capitalised and resilient during the 2025-2026 financial year, with regional economic growth estimated at 2.5% despite significant global uncertainty. The findings are detailed in the ECCB's latest Annual Report, which also outlines key financial reforms and inclusion initiatives planned for the period ahead.
EIA Approves Pearns Point Luxury Villa With Strict Coastal Safeguards
An Environmental Impact Assessment has approved a proposed multi-million-dollar luxury villa at Pearns Point, finding the development environmentally feasible provided strict coastal engineering safeguards, drainage controls and erosion management measures are fully implemented. The 538-page report, prepared by EcoUrban Planning Ltd. on behalf of Ariadine Ltd., identifies storm surge, cliff-edge geology and stormwater management as the project's key challenges.
Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Nurses Complete Medication Safety Training
Nurses at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre have completed a medication safety refresher training programme, facilitated by the hospital's Pharmacy team and Learning and Development Unit. The initiative is part of the hospital's ongoing professional development efforts to uphold high standards of patient care.
COMMENTARY: The Prodigals — A Call to Welcome Home Antigua's Displaced Sons and Daughters
In a commentary published by Antigua News Room, Dr. Lester Simon issues a passionate call for Antigua and Barbuda to prepare for and embrace the forced return of its diaspora, framing the regional crisis as an opportunity for national renewal, investment, and unity across political lines.
PAHO Launches US$24 Million Emergency Appeal After Devastating Venezuela Earthquakes
PAHO has launched a US$24 million emergency appeal to fund six months of health response and recovery efforts following magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, killing more than 1,943 people and injuring over 10,500. The funds will support lifesaving services, disease outbreak prevention, and the restoration of health infrastructure for some 700,000 people in the most severely affected areas.
Airport Authority Conducts Security Drills Ahead of CHOGM Summit in November
The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority has held two tabletop security exercises at VC Bird International Airport in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, set to take place from November 1 to 4. The drills brought together law enforcement, emergency services, and other key stakeholders to test coordination and response readiness.
World Bank Names Achim Fock as New Caribbean Division Director
The World Bank has appointed Achim Fock as Division Director for the Caribbean, where he will oversee the institution's lending, advisory work, and development programs across the region. Fock brings over 25 years of World Bank experience to the role.
Three-Year-Old Rescued Alive from Venezuela Earthquake Rubble After Six Days
A three-year-old boy identified as Klieber Moran was pulled alive from earthquake rubble in Venezuela's La Guaira state six days after twin earthquakes devastated the region, in what rescuers are calling a remarkable survival. The earthquakes have killed more than 1,900 people and injured over 10,000 others.