In a significant reshaping of Antigua and Barbuda’s Upper House of Parliament, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced 10 new senate appointments, a move that brings fresh faces and institutional continuity to the country’s legislative upper chamber. The appointment that has drawn widespread attention is that of 22-year-old Shaquan O’Neil, a serving Youth Ambassador, who will now enter the history books as the youngest person ever to take a seat in the nation’s Senate.
Beyond O’Neil’s landmark appointment, the new cohort of senators includes Kendra Beazer, who previously stood as the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate for the Barbuda constituency in the April 30 general election, ultimately falling short of a winning result. Three other first-time senators will also take their seats: Angelica O’Donoghue, Abena St. Luce and Joel Rayne, expanding the range of new perspectives in the upper legislative body.
Alongside the incoming new members, Prime Minister Browne has reappointed five senators who held seats in the previous legislative term, ensuring a balance between fresh representation and institutional experience. Among the returning legislators is Alincia Williams-Grant, who is set to take on the role of Senate President in the new session. The returning cohort also includes Lamin Newton, an ABLP candidate who unsuccessfully contested the All Saints East & St. Luke constituency in the recent general election, as well as Colin O’Neil Browne, Phillip Shoul and Shenella Govia.
The appointments mark a key post-election restructuring of the national legislature, blending youth representation, new political talent, and experienced incumbency to shape the upper house’s work ahead.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne Appoints 22-Year-Old to Senate in Blend of Youth and Experience
