MP Calls for Roadside Breathalyzer Testing During Fatal Accidents Bill Debate

MP Calls for Roadside Breathalyzer Testing During Fatal Accidents Bill Debate

St. Peter MP Rawdon Turner is calling for breathalyzer testing to be administered immediately at accident scenes as Parliament debates the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, which aims to modernize Antigua and Barbuda's laws on fatal accidents and family compensation.

June 18, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Minister Johnson Commits to Boosting Disaster Preparedness in GSD Partnership

Minister Johnson Commits to Boosting Disaster Preparedness in GSD Partnership

Minister of State Kiz Johnson has committed to bolstering Antigua and Barbuda's disaster preparedness after meeting with officials from Global Support and Development, a humanitarian nonprofit focused on community resilience.

June 18, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Adult Men Responsible for 80% of Teen Pregnancies in Antigua and Barbuda

Adult Men Responsible for 80% of Teen Pregnancies in Antigua and Barbuda

A reproductive health researcher has revealed that men aged 20 and older account for 80 percent of teenage pregnancies in Antigua and Barbuda, with the majority involving men aged 20 to 24. The findings were presented on Observer Radio's The Big Issues programme by Dr. Frederick Nunes.

June 18, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Search Warrant Bill Ignites Parliamentary Debate on Police Powers and Civil Liberties

Search Warrant Bill Ignites Parliamentary Debate on Police Powers and Civil Liberties

Antigua and Barbuda's Parliament is debating the Magistrate's Code of Procedure Amendment Bill 2026, which proposes expanding the circumstances under which magistrates may issue search warrants. The bill has sparked sharp discussion over balancing effective crime-fighting tools with the protection of civil liberties.

June 18, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Doctors Call for Repeal of Antigua's 163-Year-Old Abortion Law

Doctors Call for Repeal of Antigua's 163-Year-Old Abortion Law

Two Antiguan doctors are calling for the repeal of the country's 1861 abortion law, describing it as an outdated colonial-era statute that has never been meaningfully updated despite reforms elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

June 18, 2026 · Antigua Observer
PM Browne Claims Near Full Employment, Concedes Labour Survey Needs Updating

PM Browne Claims Near Full Employment, Concedes Labour Survey Needs Updating

Prime Minister Gaston Browne told Parliament that Antigua and Barbuda is at "practically full employment," but acknowledged the country's labour market survey is outdated. The matter was raised by Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle during a parliamentary session.

June 16, 2026 · Antigua Observer
PM Browne Calls Youth Work Ethic a Growing Cultural Crisis

PM Browne Calls Youth Work Ethic a Growing Cultural Crisis

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has labelled low reliability among young public workers a cultural crisis, defending his administration's employment strategies during parliamentary questioning from Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle.

June 16, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Opposition Leader Pringle Challenges Speaker's Impartiality at Parliament Opening

Opposition Leader Pringle Challenges Speaker's Impartiality at Parliament Opening

Newly sworn-in Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle publicly called for an impartial Speaker during the June 16th sitting of the Lower House, drawing a direct floor response from House Speaker Osbert Richard Frederick in an exchange broadcast live on state media.

June 16, 2026 · Antigua Observer
MCA Moves to Clarify Legal Framework After Pares Village Cannabis Bust

MCA Moves to Clarify Legal Framework After Pares Village Cannabis Bust

The Medicinal Cannabis Authority has issued a statement correcting public misconceptions about sacramental cannabis authorization following a law enforcement operation against unauthorized cultivation in Pares Village. The Authority is urging the public to understand the legal framework governing cannabis activity in Antigua and Barbuda.

June 15, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Antigua and Barbuda Has No Official Language, Panellists Argue

Antigua and Barbuda Has No Official Language, Panellists Argue

Two panellists have argued that Antigua and Barbuda has never formally declared an official language, raising questions about government proposals to make Spanish a second official language. The debate highlights a long-standing gap in the country's legislative framework.

June 15, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Education Director Tells Top Scholars They Are Blueprint for Antigua's Future

Education Director Tells Top Scholars They Are Blueprint for Antigua's Future

Director of Education Clare Browne told top CSEC scholars at the 40th Annual National Awards Ceremony that their academic achievements represent a deliberate blueprint for shaping Antigua and Barbuda's future. Browne highlighted the students' leadership and innovation as active forces driving the nation forward.

June 15, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Potter Warns Long-Term Harm Outweighs Benefits of Child Labour Programs

Potter Warns Long-Term Harm Outweighs Benefits of Child Labour Programs

People's Union President Ralph Potter has warned that early work integration and apprenticeship programs for minors carry long-term harms that outweigh any short-term benefits. Potter's remarks raise questions about youth labour policy in Antigua and Barbuda.

June 15, 2026 · Antigua Observer
23 Young Leaders Chosen to Shape 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum in Antigua

23 Young Leaders Chosen to Shape 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum in Antigua

Twenty-three young leaders have been appointed to an international taskforce responsible for planning and delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum, which will be held in Antigua and Barbuda during CHOGM.

June 12, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Local and Regional Groups Launch Campaign Against Unhealthy Food Marketing Targeting Children

Local and Regional Groups Launch Campaign Against Unhealthy Food Marketing Targeting Children

A coalition of health organisations, led by Hope for the Future in Antigua and Barbuda, has launched a public campaign to protect children from unhealthy food marketing. The initiative is part of the regional Make it Make Sense campaign and involves multiple local and Caribbean partners.

June 12, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Public Servants Still Awaiting Back Pay Weeks After Election Promise

Public Servants Still Awaiting Back Pay Weeks After Election Promise

More than six weeks after Antigua and Barbuda's April 30 general election, public servants say they are still waiting for back pay that Prime Minister Gaston Browne repeatedly promised during the campaign. The unresolved issue continues to weigh on affected workers with no official disbursement timeline announced.

June 12, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Officials Inspect Potters Playing Field Ahead of CHOGM 2026

Officials Inspect Potters Playing Field Ahead of CHOGM 2026

Minister of State Michael Freeland and High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill have inspected the Potters Playing Field Redevelopment Project as construction advances ahead of CHOGM 2026. The site visit assessed progress on works tied to Antigua and Barbuda's preparations for the Commonwealth summit.

June 11, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Gender Affairs Director Calls for Structured Youth and Women's Leadership Opportunities

Gender Affairs Director Calls for Structured Youth and Women's Leadership Opportunities

Jamie Saunders, Executive Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs, is calling for stronger mentorship and structured opportunities to boost youth and women's participation in leadership and decision-making in Antigua and Barbuda.

June 11, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Barbuda Council Pushes Back Against Government Land Registry and Sales Plan

Barbuda Council Pushes Back Against Government Land Registry and Sales Plan

The Barbuda Council has formally opposed a reported Cabinet-approved plan to establish a land registry and enable land sales on the island. The move reignites long-standing tensions between Barbuda's local government and the central administration over communal land rights.

June 11, 2026 · Antigua Observer
Ministers Meet Sustainable Markets Initiative Reps in CHOGM 2026 Preparation

Ministers Meet Sustainable Markets Initiative Reps in CHOGM 2026 Preparation

Ministers Rawdon Turner and Kiz Johnson met with Sustainable Markets Initiative representatives to discuss collaboration opportunities tied to Antigua and Barbuda's sustainable development goals ahead of CHOGM 2026.

June 09, 2026 · Antigua Observer
PM Browne Pays Tribute to Antigua and Barbuda's Centenarians During Annual Celebrations

PM Browne Pays Tribute to Antigua and Barbuda's Centenarians During Annual Celebrations

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has honoured Antigua and Barbuda's centenarians during the annual Centenarian Week celebrations, describing them as living treasures whose sacrifices helped shape the modern nation.

June 09, 2026 · Antigua Observer