{"id":250326,"date":"2025-09-18T08:25:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=250326"},"modified":"2025-09-18T08:41:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:41:31","slug":"cabinet-notes-september-17-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/cabinet-notes-september-17-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"CABINET NOTES: September 17, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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REPORT FROM THE CABINET OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
MEETING OF WEDNESDAY 17th  September 2025<\/strong><\/p>

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The prayers before Cabinet were led by a Pastor from the Zion Church of God, who read from 1 Chronicles 4 Verses 9-10 \u2013 The story of Jabez.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jabez is described as a man more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him \u201cJabez\u201d (meaning \u201cpain\/sorrow\u201d) because of the circumstances of his birth. Despite this, Jabez prayed earnestly to God, asking for blessing, for his territory to be enlarged, for God\u2019s hand to be with him, and for protection from harm so that he would not cause pain. God granted his request.  The Pastor summarized the passage by outlining that Jabez, though born in sorrow, sought God\u2019s favor through prayer, and God answered him\u2014making him an example of how faith and prayer can transform one\u2019s destiny.  The Pastor encouraged members to pray and wait upon the Heavenly Father as their Harvest will come.<\/p>

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1.     \u201cThe Future is Bright for Antigua and Barbuda\u201d was the good news received by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Gaston Browne during a presentation of a report from the Fiscal Resilience Oversight Committee (FROC) Chaired by Attorney and Former Minister for Finance in the Opposition United Progressive Party Administration of 2004, Dr. L. Errol Cort.

The Fiscal Resilience Oversight Committee (FROC) provides independent monitoring and oversight of the Government\u2019s compliance with fiscal rules and targets set out in the Fiscal Resilience guidelines approved in 2021.<\/p>

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            The main functions of the FROC are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Review fiscal performance: Assess government revenues, expenditures, deficits, debt levels, and adherence to fiscal resilience principles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Report to Parliament: Submit periodic reports on whether government finances are being managed in line with the law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Promote transparency: Ensure fiscal policy decisions are clear, accountable, and sustainable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Advise on corrective action: Highlight risks or breaches and recommend adjustments.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    A copy of the Report was presented to Prime Minister Browne, with the Cabinet agreeing to have it tabled during the next sitting of Parliament accompanied by a Resolution for debate.<\/p>

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    A number of Positive Results & Turnaround were reported by the Deputy Chair of the FROC, Professor Justin Robinson of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n