Politics
2397 articles
PM Browne Seeks $100M Bond to Build 5,000 Homes Over Next Decade
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that the government is in discussions with FCIB to secure a $100 million housing bond, with the goal of constructing up to 5,000 homes over the next decade to meet demand from approximately 7,500 applicants currently on file.
PM Browne Eyes $100M Housing Bond to Deliver 500 Homes a Year
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced the government is seeking a $100 million housing bond through discussions with FCIB, with the aim of constructing up to 500 homes annually over the next decade. The initiative is intended to address a backlog of approximately 7,500 housing applications across Antigua and Barbuda.
PM Browne Open to Capping Free CSEC Subjects, Backs Repayment for Failed UWI Courses
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has signalled that the government may cap the number of CSEC subjects it funds per student, and has backed a proposal requiring UWI Five Islands Campus students to pay for any courses they fail and repeat.
PM Browne Endorses Mandatory Community Service for Students in Education Reform Push
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has endorsed a proposal by UWI Five Islands Campus Principal Professor Justin Robinson to incorporate mandatory community service into student life, arguing it fosters responsibility and contributes to national development. Browne suggested students could receive small stipends for maintaining public facilities and assisting with school upkeep during summer breaks.
Ambassador Marshall Calls Free Tertiary Education a Strategic Investment, Not a Political Promise
Former minister and attorney Samantha Marshall has defended the Government's free tertiary education policy, calling it a strategic investment in national development. Writing in an opinion piece, as reported by Antigua News Room, Marshall argued that removing financial barriers to higher education will strengthen Antigua and Barbuda's human capital for generations to come.
Browne Calls for Panama-Centred Trade Strategy to Cut Caribbean Food Costs
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in his inaugural address as OECS Authority chairman, urged Caribbean nations to leverage Panama as a trade gateway and deepen ties with Latin America to reduce food costs and strengthen regional resilience. Browne noted that the Caribbean imports between 80 and 90 percent of its food while remaining largely disconnected from its 447 million Spanish-speaking neighbors.
Antigua and Barbuda Formalises Diplomatic Ties with Honduras
Antigua and Barbuda and Honduras have formally established diplomatic relations through the signing of a Joint Communiqué in Panama City, with both nations committing to closer cooperation on climate change, economic development, and regional issues.
Conservative Outsider Wins Colombia Presidency in Tight Runoff Vote
Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia's presidential runoff election, defeating left-wing senator Iván Cepeda by roughly 250,000 votes. The Trump admirer and political newcomer is set to take office on August 7, signalling a shift back to conservative leadership after four years of left-wing rule.
PM Browne Calls for Sweeping OECS Commission Reforms as New Authority Chairman
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in his first address as OECS Authority chairman, has publicly called on Director General Didacus Jules to develop a reform plan that makes the OECS Commission leaner, more cost-effective and better equipped to serve member states. Browne framed the push for reform against a backdrop of global instability, emphasising that regional unity is essential for small island nations to remain resilient.
PM Browne Rejects US Deportee Proposal, Caps Arrivals at 10 Per Year
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected a US proposal to send large numbers of deportees to Antigua and Barbuda, submitting a counterproposal capping annual arrivals at 10. Browne made the announcement during his first address as chairman of the OECS Authority, warning that accepting 120 individuals was "totally unacceptable."
UWI Five Islands Law Programme May Face Enrollment Cap After 137 Applications Received
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says UWI Five Islands Campus may need to cap enrollment in its new law degree programme after receiving 137 applications, surpassing available space. The government has committed to covering approximately half of tuition costs for students entering the programme.
Letter: Tenant Rights Under Fire as Landlord Misconduct Raises Legal and Privacy Concerns
A concerned citizen has written to the Antiguan Herald raising alarm over a landlord's alleged failure to provide proper notice to a tenant and the sharing of the tenant's private bedroom footage in a public online group. The letter, as reported by Antigua.news, calls for greater accountability and a broader national conversation about tenant rights in Antigua and Barbuda.
PM Browne Eyes Broader Education Levy to Fund Schools at All Levels
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has indicated his government is weighing an expansion of the existing education levy to channel greater revenue into schools at every level, from early childhood through tertiary education. The proposal would target profitable businesses while potentially exempting companies earning less than EC$1 million annually.
OECS Leaders Convene in Antigua as PM Browne Takes Chairmanship
OECS heads of government are meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on June 21 and 22 for the body's 78th Authority meeting, during which Prime Minister Gaston Browne will assume the chairmanship of the subregional organisation.
OECS Authority's 78th Meeting to Be Held in Antigua and Barbuda This Weekend
Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday will attend the 78th OECS Authority Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on June 21–22, 2026, where he will hand over the OECS Chairmanship to Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Regional leaders will convene to discuss economic development, climate resilience, security, and integration.
Minister Turner Urges Fathers to 'Be the Rock' as Social Protection Board Marks Fifth Father's Day Drive
The Social Protection Board hosted its fifth annual Father's Day appreciation drive in St. John's on Friday, honouring fathers from all walks of life. Minister of Social Transformation Rawdon Turner urged fathers to remain present and active in their children's lives, calling on them to 'be the rock' their children need.
Caribbean Nations Deserve Stronger Voice in Global Climate Talks, Says Antiguan Minister
Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Health and Environment Michael Joseph has called for greater representation of Small Island Developing States in global climate talks, arguing that Caribbean nations bear a disproportionate burden of climate change despite contributing negligibly to global emissions. Joseph made the appeal following his participation in the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum 2026.
Opinion: Does Extending Antigua's Windfall Tax Truly Serve the Public Interest?
A governance professional has responded to a recent Antigua News Room opinion piece by challenging the framing of a proposal to extend and expand the Windfall Tax, arguing that critical questions about spending, accountability, and measurable outcomes must be answered before any expansion is considered.
OAS Official Calls for Renewed Development Commitment Ahead of Panama Assembly
OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development Ambassador Isabelle Valois is calling for renewed multilateral commitment to the Americas' unfinished development agenda ahead of the 56th OAS General Assembly in Panama City from June 22 to 24. Writing in an opinion piece reported by Antigua.news, Valois highlights critical gaps — including 160 million people without safe drinking water and nearly 10 million children out of school — while pointing to concrete OAS initiatives delivering results across the hemisphere.
Antigua and Barbuda Parliament Passes Tough New Cybercrime Penalties
Antigua and Barbuda's Parliament has passed cybercrime legislation imposing fines of up to EC$1 million on individuals or companies that refuse to provide electronic data to law enforcement. The Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill also targets local managers of companies that cite overseas headquarters as justification for non-compliance.