ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — During Monday’s senate debate over the 2026 Magistrate’s Code of Procedure Amendment Bill, opposition Senator Malaka Parker has delivered a forceful call for sweeping, systemic reform of Antigua and Barbuda’s fragmented search and seizure legislation, arguing that balanced, clear statutory frameworks protect both public safety and constitutional rights for all citizens and law enforcement officers alike. Parker stressed that the current regulatory landscape for search warrants is scattered across multiple overlapping statutes, including the national constitution, which already enshrines strict protections against arbitrary searches and unlawful invasions of privacy. While the opposition openly backs efforts to equip law enforcement with robust tools to tackle rising crime, Parker warned that expanding police authority without matching upgrades to procedural safeguards poses a direct threat to the fair administration of justice.
Senator Malaka Parker Calls for Comprehensive Reform of Search Warrant Laws to Strengthen Justice, Accountability and Public Confidence
