分类： politics

The United Progressive Party (UPP) has announced a town-hall meeting scheduled for September 30 at Freedom Hall on Lower Newgate Street in Antigua and Barbuda. The event, set to commence at 7 p.m., aims to address escalating concerns over crime and government accountability. The panel will be led by Deputy Political Leader and criminal defense attorney Hon. Sherfield Bowen, alongside financial consultant Kem Warner and former Royal Police Force member Nuffield Burnett. The UPP has emphasized that the meeting will focus on the recent surge in crime, alleged mismanagement of state funds, and the government’s perceived inadequate response to these issues. In a pre-event statement, the party expressed that citizens are increasingly frustrated with violent crime, extrajudicial killings, and a lack of transparency in public spending. The town-hall will serve as a platform for citizens to voice their grievances and propose solutions to these pressing national concerns. The event will be broadcast live on Progressive 107.3 FM and streamed via the UPP’s official Facebook page, ensuring widespread accessibility for the public.

On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister, E.P. Chet Greene, held a pivotal meeting with UK Minister Chris Elmore to discuss preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), set to be hosted in Antigua and Barbuda. The meeting underscored the robust collaboration between the two nations as they intensify planning for this landmark event. Minister Greene expressed pride in Antigua and Barbuda’s role as host and highlighted the productive partnership with the UK, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in ensuring the summit’s success. The discussions also focused on the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Centre of Excellence, a cornerstone initiative of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). This center aims to foster innovation and sustainable development solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by SIDS. Minister Greene urged the UK to fully support this initiative, which aligns with the broader goals of advancing shared Commonwealth values and achieving sustainable development. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting island nations in overcoming their distinct challenges and advancing global development priorities. Minister Greene’s packed schedule at the UN General Assembly included additional bilateral discussions with other nations, expected to yield significant benefits for Antigua and Barbuda. The meeting marks a significant step in strengthening international cooperation and advancing the interests of small island states on the global stage.

In a bold address at the United Nations Climate Summit, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne issued a stark warning to global leaders: if diplomatic efforts fail to address climate change, small island nations will resort to legal action to hold major polluters accountable. Browne emphasized that advancements in attribution science—research linking extreme weather events to fossil fuel emissions—now provide the necessary evidence to pursue such cases in court. ‘If diplomacy fails, then we should use the courts to hold these large polluters accountable,’ he declared. Browne framed the issue as a matter of survival for small island developing states (SIDS), which face existential threats from rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and escalating climate-related damages. He stressed that the 1.5-degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement is non-negotiable for these vulnerable nations. Browne also criticized the global financial system as ‘unfit for purpose,’ highlighting the staggering $387 billion annual cost of climate adaptation and the inadequacy of current climate finance. He endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, which advocates for a rules-based phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, supported by financial and technological transfers. Antigua and Barbuda has taken proactive steps with its National Adaptation Plan and plans to update its climate targets this year. However, Browne emphasized that national efforts alone are insufficient. He called for the international community to adopt the ‘polluter pays’ principle, expand concessional financing, and ensure access to affordable renewable technologies. ‘Let us treat the 1.5-degree limit as a lifeline, not as a line in the sand,’ he urged. ‘And let us act—not tomorrow, but today—so that the smallest and most vulnerable nations among us are not left to face the greatest storms alone.’

Hon. Jamale Pringle, the Leader of the Opposition in Antigua and Barbuda, has issued a public invitation urging citizens and residents to attend the upcoming meeting of the Public Accounts Committee. The session is set to take place on Thursday, 25 September 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in the House of Parliament. In his statement, Mr. Pringle underscored the critical role of the Public Accounts Committee in promoting transparency and accountability by scrutinizing government expenditures and ensuring the efficient use of public funds. He emphasized the importance of civic participation in parliamentary proceedings, highlighting the committee’s function as a cornerstone of democratic oversight. While specific details of the meeting’s agenda remain undisclosed, this initiative reflects the Opposition’s ongoing commitment to fostering public engagement in governance. By encouraging community involvement, the Opposition aims to strengthen democratic processes and enhance trust in government operations. This move aligns with broader efforts to empower citizens and ensure that parliamentary activities remain accessible and transparent.

In a compelling address at the United Nations, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda called for urgent international action to address the escalating climate and economic crises threatening small island developing states (SIDS). Speaking before global leaders, Browne emphasized the profound challenges facing these nations, including trade fragmentation, financial volatility, and increasingly frequent climate disasters. He noted that climate-related disasters in 2024 alone caused $7 billion in damages across the region. Browne highlighted the vulnerability of economies heavily reliant on tourism, which in some islands contributes over 40% of GDP. He warned that rising sea levels, projected to reach up to one metre by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), could threaten homes, ports, and entire cultures. The Prime Minister stressed the gap between global pledges and action, citing slow progress on agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the UN’s 2030 Agenda. He outlined regional initiatives, including the establishment of a Debt Sustainability Support service (DSS) by the Antigua and Barbuda Gender for SIDS, aimed at restructuring debt and directing financing into resilience projects. Browne urged multilateral development banks and financial institutions to expand concessional financing, adopt vulnerability-based access, and implement automatic debt service pauses in the event of disasters. He also encouraged partnerships with philanthropy and private capital to fund resilient infrastructure, clean energy, and adaptation projects. ‘State-contingent debt, climate-resilient clauses, and debt-for-nature swaps must become standard practice, not pilots,’ he said, appealing for immediate global action to safeguard the futures of the world’s most vulnerable nations.