分类： politics

A incendiary comment from a senior Antiguan and Barbudan senator has reignited urgent conversations about the declining state of respectful political dialogue across the nation. Senior Senator Philip Shoul recently acknowledged that opposition lawmaker Jonathan Wehner holds a spot on his so-called “hit list” — a comment that has left many citizens questioning the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric from elected officials.

While some have rushed to dismiss the comment as nothing more than offhand political banter, and others argue it was never meant to be taken as a literal threat of violence, the core issue extends far beyond the speaker’s original intent. For a country already confronting persistent violent crime and growing political polarization, this kind of charged language carries tangible risks, regardless of whether it was framed as metaphor.

Words carry weight, especially when they come from public officials who hold the trust and respect of the electorate. Elected leaders are tasked with modeling constructive civic engagement for the public, particularly for young people who are learning how democratic disagreement functions. Across Antigua and Barbuda, leaders from across sectors — from political offices to schools to faith institutions — regularly urge young citizens to resolve differences through dialogue rather than violence. A comment framing a political opponent as a target on a “hit list” directly undermines that collective message.

Even if used figuratively, the term “hit list” is inextricably linked to targeted retaliation and violent retribution. It does nothing to foster open debate, mutual tolerance, or healthy democratic participation. Instead, it amplifies tension and reinforces a destructive “winner-take-all” mindset that erodes the foundation of collaborative governance.

This incident carries added weight because Wehner is a young, rising figure in national politics. Political disagreement is an inherent and healthy part of democracy, but when veteran leaders publicly target younger incoming politicians with threatening language, it sends a dangerous message about what kind of conduct is acceptable in public life. It undermines core values of mentorship and respectful leadership that are critical to sustaining democracy for future generations.

Vigorous debate and sharp criticism are always welcome in public life, but neither requires language that can be reasonably interpreted as intimidating or threatening. In response to the controversy, the author of the op-ed calls on the Royal Police Force to launch a review of the comment. This review is not necessarily intended to pursue criminal charges, but rather to provide clarity to the public that restores confidence in political norms. If the comment was indeed harmless rhetorical flair, that fact should be confirmed publicly. If not, the public is owed a full explanation.

At a minimum, this incident should spark a long-overdue national conversation about formal and informal standards of conduct for elected officials across all parties. Democracy, the author argues, relies not only on strong laws and independent institutions, but on a culture of respect shaped by the words leaders choose to use.

Antigua and Barbuda deserves leaders who can advocate passionately for their positions and disagree with opponents without leaning into language that evokes hostility, targeting, or retaliation. Citizens should hold all politicians to this higher standard, regardless of partisan affiliation. Respectful disagreement is a mark of strong leadership; intimidating rhetoric, even when disguised as humor or political performance, is a sign of weakness.

The painful, centuries-long dispossession of Indigenous American peoples stands as one of the darkest chapters in Western hemisphere history. What began with the welcome of foreign settlers eventually ended in the systematic seizure of Native lands — through brute force, calculated deception, and the full endorsement of state governments controlled by the growing immigrant population. What followed was a cultural collapse: from the Trail of Tears, the deadly 1830s forced relocation under President Andrew Jackson that killed thousands of Indigenous people in winter’s freezing conditions, to the modern reality of reservations plagued by systemic poverty, rampant addiction, political corruption, underfunded education, elevated rates of violent crime, and persistent erasure of traditional identity. Today, Indigenous Americans face disproportionately high rates of mental illness, hold the lowest-waging jobs in their regions, and have largely faded from mainstream public consciousness, their once-vibrant cultures reduced to marginalized stereotypes. As the old adage warns: those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it. For the people of Antigua and Barbuda, this warning is not abstract history — it is an unfolding crisis that current leaders are ignoring, at the cost of the nation’s very identity.

A fresh political feud has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda’s Senate following a contentious parliamentary walkout last week, with a ruling party senator declaring a first-term opposition legislator has landed himself on his political “hit list” after public criticism of the governing administration and the Senate’s top official.

Government senator Philip Shoul recently opened up about the falling-out during an on-air discussion on local outlet Pointe FM, explaining that he initially extended an olive branch to new opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner when the rookie lawmaker took up his post. Shoul said he had been willing to give Wehner space to find his footing as a first-term parliamentarian, even encouraging him to carve out an independent political identity. “I looked across the aisle and I said to him, ‘Do me a favor. I’m really happy that you’re here. You’re young. You have a lot of potential. Be your own man,’” Shoul recalled of his initial outreach.

That goodwill, however, evaporated within hours of Wehner’s swearing-in ceremony, according to Shoul. The new opposition senator appeared on local Observer Radio that same afternoon, where he delivered sharp public rebukes of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant. Wehner later joined other opposition lawmakers in walking out of the parliamentary session, part of a larger protest over a procedural dispute involving Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, who attempted to participate in a joint sitting before completing his required oath of allegiance.

Shoul argues that Wehner’s choice to publicly criticize Williams-Grant – the same Senate president he will have to work with for the duration of his term – was a unnecessary and unwise misstep. The public attack, he said, has completely changed his approach to the young politician. “You know, if this young man had one ounce of sense, right? Because I also know right now he’s on my hit list. That’s what I say right now,” Shoul stated firmly.

Previously, Shoul said he had planned to hold back from challenging Wehner during his first major address to the Senate, a common courtesy extended to new parliamentarians making their maiden parliamentary contributions. But that plan is now off the table, he confirmed. “I had planned to leave him in his maiden presentation, right? Just leave him alone. But I’m not going to do it,” he added.

Beyond the procedural dispute, Shoul also pushed back against Wehner’s recent criticism of the ABLP administration’s budget estimates, dismissing the opposition lawmaker’s comments as uninformed. “He talks about budget estimates — that’s his favorite word. He doesn’t understand what a budget estimate is,” Shoul claimed.

The latest exchange of barbs marks a deepening of the political tensions that grew out of last week’s walkout, which has already sparked an ongoing war of words between government and opposition figures over how parliamentary proceedings were handled during the opening session.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has made a historic official announcement: His Majesty King Charles III, via formal letters patent, has named Her Ladyship the Honourable Madam Margaret Price Findlay as the 14th Chief Justice of the regional judicial body. The appointment is scheduled to take effect on April 9, 2026.

Findlay will step into the top judicial role after a decades-long distinguished career spanning legal practice and judicial service across the Eastern Caribbean sub-region. Her career has been widely recognized for its consistent adherence to robust legal reasoning, exemplary public service, and an unshakable commitment to upholding equal justice for all communities in the region.

As Chief Justice, Findlay will assume core responsibilities for strategic judicial leadership and comprehensive administrative oversight of the ECSC. The court serves a total of nine jurisdictions under the umbrella of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): six fully independent member states and three British Overseas Territories.

This appointment is far more than a routine leadership transition: it represents a landmark milestone for the ECSC and the broader Eastern Caribbean region in advancing judicial excellence, deepening cross-jurisdictional regional cooperation, and strengthening the foundation of the rule of law across the sub-region. Findlay’s ascent to the highest judicial office in the region is a direct reflection of her extraordinary long-term contributions to the regional judiciary and her proven track record of dedicated service to both justice and regional integration.

Leadership of the ECSC has expressed full confidence that under Findlay’s stewardship, the court will continue to uphold and advance the highest standards of judicial integrity, excellence, and adaptive innovation to meet the evolving legal needs of the region.

In a recent public address on Pointe FM’s current affairs program *On Pointe*, Health Minister Michael Joseph has outlined a key infrastructure initiative aimed at overhauling the nation’s healthcare system: the establishment and operationalization of the country’s first dedicated public morgue, paired with a fully functional new autopsy suite. For years, the government has been forced to rely on private funeral homes to store deceased individuals awaiting post-mortem examination or burial, a arrangement that has steadily drained public health funds. According to Joseph, the new public facility will eliminate these recurring, unplanned expenditures, freeing up critical budget allocations that can be redirected to underfunded, high-priority areas of the healthcare sector. The minister emphasized that the morgue project is just one piece of a broader, multi-pronged strategy by the Ministry of Health to boost system-wide efficiency, optimize the use of limited public resources, and expand access to essential care services. Beyond the morgue and autopsy suite, the ministry is currently advancing several other transformative healthcare projects, including the upcoming opening of a dedicated cancer treatment center, long-term development plans for a new cardiac care unit, expanded access to community mental health services, and the construction of a specialized cognitive behavioral treatment center. As of the minister’s announcement, no official timeline has been released for the completion and opening of the new public morgue.