分类： politics

In a formal ceremony held at Government House on Monday, Malaka Parker took the oath of office to become the newest opposition senator, with Deputy Governor General Sir Clare Roberts presiding over the investiture.

Parker’s path to the senate followed a slight delay: she was unable to attend the original swearing-in event held last week, after opposition officials confirmed she had to travel overseas for unforeseen, extenuating circumstances. On Monday, she finally received her official instruments of appointment and completed the required oath to formally take up her seat.

This appointment marks the final step in filling the opposition’s full slate of representation in the Senate’s Upper House, and it comes just two days before the chamber is scheduled to hold its next sitting on Wednesday.

Leading up to Monday’s ceremony, opposition leadership released a public statement over the weekend addressing their absence from the event. Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker both confirmed they are currently outside the country attending to personal matters, and expressed regret that they could not be present for Parker’s swearing-in. Despite their unavoidable absence, the pair extended warm congratulations to Parker, and offered their well wishes for what they described as a productive and successful tenure serving on the Senate’s opposition bench.

Fresh off a dominant landslide victory at the polls, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has formally launched its new parliamentary term, but Prime Minister Gaston Browne is making clear that celebration will give way to accountability. Speaking on Monday during the inaugural sitting of the newly elected Parliament at the nation’s Parliament Building, immediately following the official swearing-in of all elected Members of Parliament, Browne delivered a blunt reminder to his party’s lawmakers that their decisive win does not equal permission to step back from public service.

In opening remarks to the newly seated chamber, Browne doubled down on a message he has stressed repeatedly throughout the transition: the landslide result is no mandate for slothfulness. “If anything, it is actually a mandate for us to serve more faithfully the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” he told assembled lawmakers. He laid out clear expectations for all members of the legislature, calling for unrelenting effort to advance social and economic empowerment for citizens across both islands. The prime minister emphasized that Parliament retains its status as the highest decision-making body in the nation, and attendance will be a core accountability measure for all members.

Browne stressed that casual attendance will not be tolerated, noting that lawmakers should only miss sittings when facing illness, official government travel, or other well-documented extenuating circumstances. Beyond participation, he reminded MPs that they hold a critical fiduciary responsibility to their constituents, requiring that they carry out their work with consistent dignity and professional conduct.

The opening sitting included formal leadership appointments, with Browne extending congratulations to Osbert Frederick on his reappointment as Speaker of the House and Philmore Benjamin on his new election as Deputy Speaker. He framed the parliamentary chamber as a sacred space at the heart of the nation’s democracy, charging the new leadership with upholding the chamber’s core values. Frederick and Benjamin, he said, are tasked with leading proceedings with wisdom, fairness, and unwavering firmness, all while protecting the dignity and institutional integrity of the House.

“You are entrusted with safeguarding the dignity, order, and integrity of this honorable house,” Browne stated, adding that the government expects the chamber to avoid descending into chaos even amid the inevitable political challenges of the coming term. He praised Frederick’s track record from his previous tenure as Speaker, noting his consistent reputation for being fair and firm, and expressed confidence he would uphold that standard in his new term.

Ahead of the government’s policy agenda for the coming term, Browne also called for cross-party unity as the administration works to advance its national development agenda. “Let us continue to work in a united way to continue to advance Antigua and Barbuda as we seek to expand the Renaissance, this new era of progress and development,” he said.

Before closing his remarks, Browne extended congratulations to all newly elected and re-elected lawmakers, singling out veteran parliamentarian Stedroy Benjamin for special recognition. Benjamin, the MP for St. John’s City South, took the parliamentary oath of office for the eighth consecutive time, marking a historic milestone in his decades-long career of public service.

A key constitutional milestone unfolded in the nation’s legislative chamber this week, as sitting government members of parliament formally marked the start of their new term by taking their official oaths of office. The timed-honored ceremony, a required step under the country’s parliamentary constitution, saw every ruling party MP affirm their commitment to uphold the nation’s laws, serve the public interest, and remain faithful to their constitutional duties before the speaker of the house and assembled legislative peers.

The oath-taking process comes on the heels of the recent general election that delivered the current government its parliamentary mandate, clearing the way for the administration to move forward with its policy agenda, from economic stimulus plans to public service reform. Political observers note that the completion of this formal step is far more than a symbolic ritual: it legally validates the new parliament’s authority to conduct official business, pass legislation, and hold the executive branch to account. After the conclusion of the ceremony, the newly sworn-in MPs began preliminary preparations for the opening of the first parliamentary session, where the government will lay out its legislative priorities for the coming term.

Less than a month after Antigua and Barbuda held its general election on April 30, the first formal sitting of the nation’s newly constituted House of Representatives convened on Monday to confirm key leadership positions for the incoming legislative term. In a unanimous, opposition-free vote, St. Mary’s North Member of Parliament Philmore Benjamin secured the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lower House. Benjamin brings a rare dual background to the role: he is both a seasoned veteran of parliamentary work and a practicing medical doctor, a combination that has positioned him as a well-respected figure across the political spectrum. Alongside Benjamin’s confirmation, Osbert Frederick was also re-elected unopposed to retain his position as Speaker of the House. Monday’s inaugural sitting marked a key procedural step ahead of the official ceremonial opening of Parliament, which is scheduled to take place on May 26. During that high-profile event, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams will deliver the traditional Throne Speech, laying out the incoming government’s full policy and legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session. The smooth, unopposed election of both top House leadership positions signals a largely unified opening to the new legislative term following the April general election.

When Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament gathered for its inaugural sitting of the freshly elected legislative term on Monday, a key ceremonial and procedural milestone unfolded: Osbert Frederick secured another term as Speaker of the House of Representatives without any opposition. This opening sitting formally inaugurated the new Lower House, coming nearly three weeks after the island nation’s April 30 general election that reshaped its national legislative body.

The election outcome that preceded this sitting delivered a decisive mandate to the incumbent Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, which claimed a fourth consecutive term in government after a landslide victory at the polls. Monday’s session focused on laying the groundwork for the new legislative session, with lawmakers moving forward to select a Deputy Speaker and address other routine procedural business. All these preparations are leading up to the formal ceremonial opening of Parliament and the delivery of the Throne Speech, which is scheduled to take place on May 26.

Notably, two key opposition figures were missing from the opening sitting. Jamale Pringle, the leader of the parliamentary opposition, and Trevor Walker, the Member of Parliament representing Barbuda, confirmed over the weekend that they would be out of the country and unable to attend. In an official statement released on Sunday, Pringle explained that he had traveled to the United States to accompany his underage daughter for a required medical procedure. Walker, for his part, noted that he was attending to urgent personal family matters. Both legislators have confirmed that they will complete their mandatory Oath of Allegiance during the next scheduled ordinary sitting of the Lower House when they return to the nation.

The eastern Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is set to mark a key milestone in its new political term on Wednesday, as the country’s Parliament gathers for the first sitting of the Lower House following the general election held on April 30. However, two top opposition figures will not be present for the historic opening session.

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker announced their upcoming absence in an official statement released to the public this past Sunday. The pair explained that both are currently outside the country, making it impossible for them to participate in the day’s proceedings of the House of Representatives.

Per the details shared in their statement, Pringle journeyed to the United States last week to accompany his underage daughter for a scheduled, necessary medical procedure. Walker, meanwhile, is abroad addressing urgent private family matters that require his immediate attention.

The two opposition parliamentarians confirmed that they have formally notified the Clerk to Parliament of their inability to attend the first sitting. They have also arranged to complete their required Oath of Allegiance, a mandatory step to take their seats in the legislature, during the next scheduled ordinary sitting of the Lower House.

In addition to the news of their absence, the statement also provided an update on another key opposition appointment. Opposition Senator-designate Malaka Parker, who was unable to attend her initial investiture ceremony last week, is scheduled to officially receive her instruments of appointment at Government House at 10 a.m. local time today. Pringle and Walker extended warm congratulations and heartfelt best wishes to Parker, expressing their hope that she will enjoy a productive and impactful tenure representing the opposition on the Senate bench.

Today’s inaugural sitting carries significant weight for Antigua and Barbuda’s political landscape. It follows a decisive landslide election victory for the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, which secured a fresh mandate to govern the nation. Key business scheduled for the session includes the formal election of a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lower House, kicking off the official work of the new parliamentary term.

In the wake of the closely contested April 30 general election that delivered a victory to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, a multi-faceted thanksgiving service on Sunday at St. John’s Pentecostal Church House of Restoration wove together spiritual worship, political acknowledgment and urgent calls for national reconciliation. The gathering drew a diverse cross-section of the nation’s leadership and community, including sitting Cabinet ministers, incoming senate appointees, foreign diplomatic representatives, senior church figures and thousands of party supporters, framed by organizers as both a sacred observance and a moment of collective national pause after a heated campaign cycle.

The event opened with a solemn performance of the national anthem, followed by a series of intercessory prayers covering every corner of Antigua and Barbuda’s national life: elected political leaders, the independent judiciary, religious communities, educational institutions and households across both islands. One particularly resonant prayer invoked divine provision, asking God to grant the nation “wisdom in the midst of confusion” and “peace in the midst of chaos.”

Throughout the service, speakers framed the Labour Party’s electoral win as the opening of a transformative “new season” for the twin-island nation, returning again and again to themes of gratitude, divine direction and healing after the tensions of the campaign period. Host organizers emphasized that the gathering was far more than a post-election victory lap for the governing party; instead, it was designed to center the critical need for divine guidance, collective wisdom and cross-community unity as the new administration prepares to lead the country forward.

A second layer of gratitude emerged during the service, as religious leaders urged attendees to give thanks not only for the outcome of the election and the promise of continued political stability, but also for collective deliverance just days prior. A 5.0+ magnitude earthquake centered nearby had shaken Antigua and Barbuda and multiple neighboring Caribbean islands just two days before the service on Friday, and speakers noted that the nation had escaped widespread damage or loss of life. Congregants were invited to physically mark themselves as “safe” and offer praise for God’s protection over their islands.

Extended segments of joyful praise and worship filled much of the morning’s schedule, with attendees singing traditional hymns and contemporary gospel songs centered on themes of divine grace, national restoration and communal perseverance. Worship leaders encouraged the crowd to celebrate the fundamental gifts of life, health and collective strength, while guest speakers highlighted the nation’s long history of resilience through periods of economic and social challenge.

The church also used the high-profile occasion to publicly honor the incoming political leadership, introducing each Cabinet minister and senator-designate to the congregation. Organizers issued a quick on-stage correction to several recently announced ministry portfolio assignments during the introductions, a minor note that reflected the still-forming structure of the new government.

The core message of the day came in the main sermon delivered by Apostle Dr. Stephen C. Andrews, who expanded at length on the dual themes of thanksgiving and national renewal. Andrews urged both the newly elected leadership and ordinary citizens to remain rooted in faith and committed to a spirit of service to the public good. The entire service drew its spiritual foundation from three key scripture passages: Psalm 103, Psalm 107 and 1 Chronicles 16, all of which center on the core themes of gratitude, divine protection and covenant relationship between people and God.

Attendees also viewed pre-recorded video messages of congratulations from faith leaders based overseas. Bishop Israel Ade Ajala of Colorado offered remarks praising the government’s decisive electoral win, and affirmed that international faith communities would continue holding Antigua and Barbuda in prayer as the nation works toward sustained prosperity.

In closing, church leadership wrapped up the service with a formal pledge to continue lifting the new government and the entire nation in prayer as they pursue progress. They closed with a renewed call for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to set aside past divisions and work together toward shared national development.

Fresh off securing a historic fourth consecutive general election victory, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has capped its electoral win with a national thanksgiving service that doubled as a rallying cry for cross-community solidarity. Held on Sunday at the St. John’s Pentecostal Church House of Restoration, the gathering brought together a cross-section of the nation’s leadership, including newly appointed government ministers, senators-designate, senior church figures, and hundreds of jubilant ABLP supporters. In his keynote address to the congregation, Prime Minister Gaston Browne centered his remarks on a urgent call for national unity, framing the election outcome as a catalyst to bridge divides rather than entrench political rifts.

Browne argued that regardless of differing political affiliations or religious backgrounds, all Antiguans and Barbudans share a common stake in the country’s progress. “I do not expect this victory to divide us. Instead, it should unite us,” he told attendees, pushing for the country to evolve into a “more harmonious society” that puts collective progress above partisan interests. “So let us not move forward as different political institutions, different religious denominations, but as reborn Antiguans and Barbudans who are working harmoniously to build this country,” he added.

The prime minister emphasized that widespread collaboration around shared national development goals could unlock Antigua and Barbuda’s full potential, positioning the small island nation as a global example to be admired. In a nod to the campaign and election process, he extended gratitude to a broad group of stakeholders: ABLP voters, the party’s election candidates, and what he called “prayer warriors” who worked to secure the party’s win and advocated for a peaceful, transparent voting process.

The interwoven service blended traditional Christian worship, solemn scripture readings, and thoughtful political reflection, with religious leaders echoing Browne’s core themes of gratitude, national healing after a divisive campaign, and shared responsibility for the country’s future. Speakers also wove in an unexpected note of thanks, referencing a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Antigua and Barbuda and nearby neighboring islands just two days earlier on Friday. With no reported major casualties or catastrophic damage across the country, the collective survival from the natural event served as a second, urgent reminder of why national unity and gratitude remain critical for the Caribbean nation.