Antigua and Barbuda is a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary democracy system of government. The head of the government is the Prime Minister who is the Honourable Gaston Alfonso Browne. The prime minister advises His Majesty the King of England, on the appointment of a governor-general. The current governor-general appointed for Antigua and Barbuda is Sir Rodney Williams who represents the reigning British Monarch.
The Parliament system of Antigua and Barbuda comprises a House of Representatives and a Senate. There are 17 members of the House of Representatives who are elected by the people of the country and each successful representative is given a term of up to five years in single-seat constituencies. Additionally, there are 2 other members who are not elected, 1 ex-officio member and 1 Speaker of the house. That brings the total to 19 members in the House of Representatives.
The house of Senate has 17 members which are appointed by the governor-general. 11 members are appointed after being advised by the prime minister, one of whom must be a resident of Barbuda; 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition; 1 on the advice of the Barbuda Council; and 1 at the discretion of the governor-general.
This information was taken from https://ab.gov.ag/detail_page.php?page=8
Election information
General elections for the House of Representatives are typically held in Antigua and Barbuda every 5 years however, they may be called earlier if Parliament is dissolved by the Prime Minister. Voters must be 18 years and older to vote and must be citizens of Antigua and Barbuda or be citizens of a Commonwealth country who has lived in the country for at least three years prior to a qualifying date and have been resident in the constituency for at least a month prior to the qualifying date.
Before voting, citizens must register with their local registration office in their constituency and bring the following documents to be registered as a successful candidate.
- Valid Antigua & Barbuda passport; or
- Birth or Baptismal Certificate with photo identification
- Certificate of Naturalization (in the event the passport is not yet processed, together with photo identification).
Citizens of a Commonwealth Country
Valid Commonwealth passport (must show that the applicant has been residing in Antigua and Barbuda for 7 consecutive years prior to the date when the person applies to be registered.
And any other evidence as may be required by the Registration Officer to authenticate:
- the validity of any of the documents presented;
- the information in the application.
Once you have successfully registered with your constituency office, your photo will be taken and in a week to month’s time you will receive your Voter Identification card.
What Happens on Election Day
1. The voter goes to the Presiding Officer’s table, gives his/her name and produces his/her Voter Identification Card.
2. The Voters’ List is checked, the number, name and description (occupation) of the elector as stated on the list is called out. A mark (tick) is placed against the number of the elector and the relevant information is recorded in the Poll Book.
3. The Presiding Officer checks the right index finger for stains of black electoral ink if it is missing; any finger that is situated nearest to the thumb or thumb socket if there is no thumb).
4 If there is no stain of electoral ink, the ballot is stamped with the official mark and given to the voter with instructions as to how to fold it on return, so as to show the official mark on the back and at the same time conceal his/her vote.
5. The voter proceeds to the voting compartment and marks the ballot.
6. The elector returns to the Presiding officer’s table with the marked ballot folded as instructed, shows the official mark at the back of the ballot paper.
7. The Presiding Officer again examines the appropriate digit to ensure that there is no substance on the finger to prevent the adhesion of the electoral ink. The elector’s appropriate digit is then dipped in the ink, after which the elector places the ballot in the ballot box and leaves the Polling Station
Voting process for persons who are blind
1. The blind voter and his companion, being either:
- A person registered to vote in the Constituency at the election or;
- The father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife or daughter of the blind elector at the age of 18 or more, approach the Presiding Officer’s table and state their particulars. The blind elector makes a declaration of his incapacity to vote without assistance by reason of blindness.
2. The Presiding Officer requests that the companion of the blind elector make a written declaration that he is a qualified voter and has not already assisted any other blind person to vote at the election.
3. If the Presiding Officer is satisfied, then the application is granted and FORM 8 is completed and retained by the Presiding Officer.
4. The normal voting procedures take place with the checking of the digit of the blind elector and the delivery of the ballot.
5. The ballot is marked by the companion of the blind elector on the instructions of the blind elector. They return to the Presiding Officer showing the official mark on the ballot but concealing the vote.
6. The appropriate finger of the blind elector is dipped in the electoral ink and the ballot is deposited in the box
7. The name and electoral number of the blind elector, as well as the name and address of the companion are recorded by the Presiding Officer on a list referred to as “The List of Blind Voters assisted by companions”.
8. If the blind elector is not accompanied by a companion, then the law provides for the ballot paper of a blind elector to be marked by the Presiding Officer, on the instructions of the voter, in the presence the Polling Agents.
Voting process for persons who are physically incapable
- The ordinary voting procedures of checking the Identification, placing a mark opposite the elector’s number, making a record in the Poll Book, checking the elector’s finger are done and the elector, the Presiding Officer and the Polling Agents proceed to the compartment where the ballot is marked. On return, the elector’s appropriate digit is checked again and immersed in the electoral ink before the marked ballot is placed in the box.
- The Presiding officer records on a list the name and electoral number of the voter whose vote is marked in this manner. The list is referred to as “The List of Votes marked by the Presiding Officer”.
Information from https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/antigua-election-2023-voting-rules-and-procedures
Executive intro 2 p, government ministers with pictures
The executive branch consists of the Prime minister and members of the parliament appointed by the prime minister to the cabinet. This branch is responsible for enforcing and executing the laws of the land made by the legislative branch of government. The parties in the minority serve in opposition to the majority and have the duty to challenge it regularly. Prime ministers may be removed from power whenever they lose the confidence of a majority of the ruling party or of the parliament.
In a parliamentary system, the legislative and executive branches are not entirely distinct from one another, since the prime minister and members of the cabinet are drawn from the parliament.
Hon. Gaston Browne
Prime Minister
Ministry of Finance, Corporate Governance & Public Private Partnerships
Hon. Daryll Matthew
Minister for Education, Creative Industries,
and Sport
Hon. Charles Fernandez
Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation & Investment
Hon. Steadroy Benjamin
Attorney General & Minister for
Legal Affairs, Public Safety, and
Labour
Hon. Maria Browne
Minister for Housing, Works, Land & Urban Renewal
Hon. Anthony Smith
Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy
Hon. Melford Nicholas
Minister for Information Communication
Technologies (ICTs), Utilities & Energy
Hon. Molwyn Joseph
Minister for Health, Wellness, Social Transformation & The Environment
Opposition members and independent members in the House of Representatives
Hon. Asot Anthony Michael
Independent Member
Hon. Sherfield Bowen
UPP
Hon. Trevor Walker
Barbuda BPM
Hon. Kelvin Simon
UPP
Hon. Richard Lewis
UPP
Hon. Algernon Watts
UPP
Hon. Jamale Pringle
Leader of the Opposition UPP
Hon. Anthony Smith
Independent Member
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Info obtained from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_legislature_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda
Legislative introduction
The bicameral Parliament consists of the seventeen-member House of Representatives, responsible for introducing legislation, and the seventeen-member Senate, which reviews and agrees to proposed legislation. Senators are appointed by the Governor General. The Prime Minister is the leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in the House; the Opposition Leader is the representative, appointed by the Governor General, who appears to have the greatest support of those members opposed to the majority government.
The Prime Minister creates an executive government and advises the Governor General on the appointments to thirteen of the seventeen seats in the Senate. The leader of the opposition, recognized constitutionally, is responsible for advising the Governor General on the appointment of the remaining four senators to represent the opposition in the Senate. The Opposition Leader also consults with the Governor General, in conjunction with the Prime Minister, on the composition of other appointed bodies and commissions. In this way, the opposition is ensured a voice in government.
In a parliamentary system, the legislative and executive branches are not entirely distinct from one another, since the prime minister and members of the cabinet are drawn from the parliament.
Parliament System
Antigua and Barbuda Parliament is located on Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s.
The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda consists of Her Majesty the Queen of England, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The major figures in Parliament and the government come from the House of Representatives. The senate is the upper house of parliament while the house of representatives is the lower chamber of parliament.
The Parliament is charged with certain responsibilities and is given special powers and privileges to effectively carry out its functions. This includes freedom of speech in Parliament, the authority to regulate its business by Standing Orders, as well as the freedom from civil or criminal proceedings for words spoken or written by Members before their respective House.
Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda
Senators
Alincia Williams-Grant
President of the Senate
Richie Richardson
Deputy Leader of Government Business
Osbert Richard Frederick
Deputy President of the Senate
Samantha Marshall
Leader of Government Business
Shenella Mary Shadida Govia
Government Senator
Dwayne George
Government Senator
Knacyntar Nedd
Government Senator
Barbuda representative
Marley Antonio
Government Senator
Philip Shoul
Government Senator
Rawdon Turner
Government Senator
Colin O’Neil Browne
Independent Member
Shawn Nicholas
Senate Minority Leader
Johnathan Joseph
Opposition Senator
David Massiah
Government Senator
Kiz Johnson
Independent Senator
Governor General’s representative
Alex Browne
Opposition Senator
Fabian Jones
Barbuda Senator
Barbuda Council
Info from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_legislature_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda
Judiciary
The judicial branch is primarily independent of the other two branches, although the magistrates are appointed by the Office of the Attorney General in the executive branch. The judiciary consists of the Magistrate’s Court for minor offenses and the High Court for major offenses. To proceed beyond the High Court, a case must pass to the Eastern Caribbean States Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the OECS (Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States).
All appointments or dismissals of magistrates of the Supreme Court must meet with the unanimous approval of the heads of government in the OECS; the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda acts on the recommendation of the attorney general in making decisions concerning this judicial body.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, located in London, stands as the final court of appeal for Antigua and Barbuda while the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the proposed regional judicial tribunal to be established by the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Information obtained from https://embassy.ag/dario-item-antigua-barbuda–antigua–and-barbuda-government/
Antigua High Court
Eastern Caribbean States Supreme Court
Antigua High Court
Eastern Caribbean States Supreme Court