标签： Antigua and Barbuda

A critical three-day intensive training program for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel is currently in progress at the Crabbes training facility. This rigorous exercise is designed to simulate high-stakes disaster scenarios, equipping first responders with the advanced skills necessary for locating, extracting, and providing life-saving medical aid to victims trapped in collapsed structures.

The training curriculum encompasses a comprehensive range of technical disciplines, including shoring and stabilization of unstable wreckage, strategic breaching of concrete and rebar, and the delicate art of tunneling through debris. Participants are also drilled in the deployment of sophisticated electronic search equipment, such as seismic listening devices and fiber-optic scopes, to detect signs of life. The program emphasizes a multi-agency, collaborative response, mirroring the complex coordination required in real-world catastrophes like earthquakes, major industrial accidents, or terrorist attacks.

Held at the strategically chosen Crabbes site, which offers varied and challenging terrain, the exercise serves as a vital component of regional disaster preparedness. The initiative underscores a continuous commitment to enhancing operational readiness, ensuring that elite rescue teams remain at peak proficiency to mitigate loss of life and suffering when communities are faced with unimaginable crises.

Authorities have issued an urgent public appeal following repeated incidents of trespassing at active construction sites across the nation. Current infrastructure work, including the Jennings Extension Road project leading toward Hermitage Bay, is experiencing significant disruptions due to public non-compliance with safety measures. Despite clearly visible signage and physical barriers, individuals have been bypassing designated detours, leaving behind bicycle tracks, footprints, and vehicle tire impressions in freshly poured concrete. This reckless behavior not only compromises structural integrity but also poses serious safety hazards and causes costly delays. Officials emphasize that alternative routes have been strategically established to ensure both public safety and construction efficiency. The ongoing projects represent critical investments in national infrastructure, and community cooperation is deemed essential for their successful and timely completion. While appreciation is extended to the majority of citizens for their continued patience, this reminder serves as a critical plea for universal adherence to established safety protocols.

In a heartfelt tribute during the official funeral service on Tuesday, Gavin Watt memorialized his father, the late Sir Gerald Watt KC, painting a multifaceted portrait that extended far beyond his esteemed legal career. The eulogy transformed the ceremony into a celebration of a life defined by deep passion, unwavering dedication to family, and a formidable work ethic that shaped both his home and his nation.

Gavin Watt guided mourners through the journey of ‘Gerald Anderson Watt,’ who evolved into one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most revered legal authorities. He emphasized that passion was the central theme of his father’s existence, a driving force evident in every aspect of his life. ‘You have to have passion,’ Watt stated, ‘and I think that’s one of the things about my father that everyone here sees.’

The personal recollections offered a rare glimpse into the private world of the public figure. Gavin recounted cherished childhood memories of early Saturday mornings spent watching western films and cricket with his father before Sir Gerald departed for work. These moments, he revealed, were sacred windows into his father’s personal joys—lifelong passions that persisted regardless of cricket match outcomes.

Beyond the gentle moments, the eulogy also illuminated Sir Gerald’s strong character and sharp wit. Gavin shared anecdotes of family disagreements where his father would deftly defuse tension with his trademark humor, quipping, ‘I don’t need to argue with you — I get paid to argue.’ This blend of outspokenness and deep affection defined their relationship; a man who would quickly express displeasure but always follow with embrace and love.

A powerful story emerged of a boating trip where Sir Gerald’s physical strength and determination were displayed when he single-handedly freed a grounded vessel. This act, Gavin explained, became a profound metaphor for his father’s approach to life’s obstacles: ‘It showed me his determination — that if needed, he would move mountains to get things done.’

Concluding his remarks, Gavin Watt expressed profound gratitude for his father’s enduring influence on family, friends, and Antigua and Barbuda’s society. His final words resonated through the ceremony: ‘I love you. I miss you. And I will carry you in my heart the rest of my days,’ cementing Sir Gerald Watt’s legacy as both a national icon and a beloved patriarch.

The Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association has sounded alarm bells over a critical shortage of criminal lawyers, with its president Dr. Lenworth Johnson warning that the nation’s criminal bar is diminishing at an alarming rate. During the official funeral proceedings for the late Sir Gerald Watt KC, the esteemed former Speaker, Johnson revealed that fewer than a handful of legal practitioners in Antigua maintain substantial criminal practices—a situation posing severe implications for the judicial system’s functionality.

Johnson characterized criminal law as an emotionally demanding field that requires specific psychological resilience, noting that most emerging attorneys demonstrate minimal interest in this practice area. Those who initially venture into criminal law frequently withdraw after brief exposure, creating a sustainability crisis within the legal profession.

The Bar Association president proposed collaborative engagement with Attorney General Stedroy Benjamin, himself a distinguished former criminal attorney, to develop strategic solutions. Johnson emphasized that honoring Sir Gerald Watt’s legacy would be best achieved through concrete actions to revitalize criminal law practice.

Sir Gerald Watt’s extraordinary six-decade career served as a benchmark for professional dedication, during which he filed over 180 High Court cases and made more than 500 criminal applications—many establishing landmark legal precedents. Johnson recalled Watt’s fearless advocacy, including a notable case where he successfully sued a fellow attorney for professional negligence after a client’s claim failed due to unpleaded legal doctrines.

The Bar Association now aims to transform this concerning trend into an opportunity for generational inspiration, seeking to channel Watt’s exemplary legacy into motivating young lawyers to embrace criminal practice.

ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – In a strategic move to enhance youth development initiatives, telecommunications provider Flow Antigua and Barbuda has donated two laptop computers to Junior Chamber International (JCI) Antigua. The technological contribution was formally presented to JCI Antigua President Collet Gordon and Secretary General Akilah Anderson during a ceremony on January 21, 2026.

The equipment donation represents a significant enhancement to JCI Antigua’s operational infrastructure, directly supporting the organization’s administrative functions and community outreach programs. This technological infusion will enable more efficient execution of youth leadership projects throughout the nation.

Wayne Hull, Country Manager of Flow Antigua and Barbuda, emphasized the company’s dedication to community development during the handover ceremony. “Our support for organizations like JCI Antigua demonstrates Flow’s commitment to initiatives that actively shape our communities,” Hull stated. “These devices will substantially strengthen JCI’s capacity to empower emerging leaders and generate tangible social impact.”

JCI Antigua, established in 1960, possesses a distinguished legacy of advancing youth empowerment and leadership development. The organization has consistently worked toward community betterment through various programs and initiatives over its six-decade history.

President Collet Gordon expressed profound appreciation on behalf of JCI Antigua’s leadership and membership. “This technological contribution arrives at a pivotal moment in our operational evolution,” Gordon noted. “These resources will dramatically improve our Secretariat’s efficiency as we continue our mission of cultivating the next generation of community leaders.”

The partnership between Flow Antigua and Barbuda and JCI Antigua exemplifies how corporate-social organization collaborations can effectively drive national progress through targeted technological support and capacity building.

The Eastern Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is observing a day of solemn remembrance as it bids an official farewell to one of its most distinguished legal minds, the late Sir Gerald Watt KC. The state-sanctioned funeral, currently in progress, is drawing a confluence of the nation’s highest dignitaries, judicial figures, and citizens united in grief and respect.

Sir Gerald Watt’s legacy is etched into the very fabric of the region’s jurisprudence. His career, spanning several decades, was marked by an unwavering commitment to justice and legal excellence. He served with immense distinction as a former President of the Senate and as a long-serving Speaker of the House of Representatives, roles in which he was revered for his profound integrity, sharp intellect, and masterful command of parliamentary procedure. His contributions extended beyond the legislature into the courtroom, where he was a formidable and highly respected King’s Counsel, shaping landmark cases and mentoring generations of legal professionals.

The official funeral ceremony, imbued with full state honors, reflects the magnitude of his service to the nation. The proceedings include solemn tributes, a gun salute, and the draping of the national flag over his coffin, symbolizing the country’s deep gratitude. Eulogies from the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice are highlighting his pivotal role in strengthening the nation’s democratic institutions and his profound personal impact on all who knew him.

This event transcends a mere funeral; it is a national moment of reflection on the values of service, principle, and dedication that Sir Gerald Watt embodied. His passing signifies the loss of a foundational pillar in the Commonwealth’s legal community, but his extensive work and ethical standards leave an indelible blueprint for future leaders in law and governance.