Cabinet approves committee to review Antigua and Barbuda Constitution

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Attorney General Sir Steadroy Cutie Benjamin

The government has begun steps towards possible constitutional reform with Cabinet’s approval of a new Constitutional Review Committee.

Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin said the panel will assess whether Antigua and Barbuda’s Constitution remains fit for purpose more than four decades after Independence. The supreme law has seen little amendment since it took effect in 1981.

The committee, chaired by Sir Steadroy with Queen’s Counsel Justin Simon as deputy, will include members drawn from civil society, the legal profession and non-governmental organisations.

Its work will focus on identifying provisions that could be amended without a referendum, as well as flagging broader issues for national discussion. These include the future of the country’s two-chamber Parliament and whether religious leaders should be eligible to contest elections.

The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Reform Group, led by attorney Ralph Bowen, will have a dedicated seat on the committee, which is expected to begin its work in January.

Sir Steadroy also acknowledged that past reform efforts, including the referendum on the Caribbean Court of Justice, may have been affected by limited public education on constitutional issues.

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5 COMMENTS

  1. I will definitely participate. Also have a committee that studies the cause and impact and frequent inherently dangerous crimes occurring and how to stop them. Focus people, focus. I do not see the king currently robbing and killing us but current crimes are doing that right now that AG Steadroy Benjamin says is not a problem you are being assaulted, battered, robbed, kidnapped, home bulglarized, because as long as it impacts only you the locals, then Antigua and Barbuda is the safest place in the caribbean. As your safety and security doesn’t count/matter.

    Separating yourself from the UK will only make matters worse. You can’t have leaders like this and be completely attached from major and more developed countries with numerous watchdogs.

  2. @My way of helping, aren’t you paying attention to the rise of racism, riots and discrimination going on in the UK at present?

    Furthermore, there’s a right wing party called ‘Reform’ who are ahead in many polls that predict they’ll form the next government at the next General Election – no wonder many educated, black professionals, and business men and women are leaving the UK for a peaceful and more fulfilling life.

    Do your research nah!

    And also, hanging on to an outdated monarchy that has hounded out the only black woman, because she married King Charle’s son Harty is beyond bigoted ignorance; and you are telling Antiguans that “Seperating […] from the UK will only make matters worse…”

    Look boss, if you need REAL facts and figures, abd not hearsay, just ask me…

  3. @Brixtonian, notice how I worded my sentence, “I do not see the king currently killing us”. Meaning I anticipated response like yours and say I am taking the lesser of the evil. There are international watchdogs with the Privy Council as the last court. While there is 0 in Antigua and Barbuda.

    You have to understand that they facts you say you have, I have, but have analyzed it. And the conclusion is, it makes no sense at this time, to remove the United Kingdom from the United Islands of Antigua and Barbuda.

    So always listen to the “boss” ha ha ha ha. They are usually in charge for a reason.

  4. No doubt that Cutie is into something, but he is the wrong messenger for this ride.

    This administration cannot be trusted with these serious affairs going forward for Antiguan’s.

    That’s the huge problem here..I corrupt person cannot take anyone to the promise land..that’s not how to works..fruits from the poisonous tree, that’s what these politicians are right.

    Good intentions alone do not bring good, one has to practice good to be good. Not these guys..at least from their track record.

  5. A…the upper house MUST be elected, not SELECTED!

    B…TERM LIMITS (2 terms) for ALL ELECTED MEMBERS of the Parliament.

    C…PERMANENT DATE/MONTH, every five(5) years, instead of the #willy_nilly crap by the PM and his cronies!

    D…ALL Antiguans & Barbudan living in the diaspora and meet certain requirements, MUST be able to vote in the General Elections!

    E…All Nationala irrespective, of where they were born, or what other sovereign Nation, they may have sworn allegiance to, must be able to sit in the Parliament, and represent, the People.
    This one will bring more vibrant scrutiny to the overall COMPLIANCE, to the pertinent things which makes Government works for the PEOPLE.

    Regardless, what the western propaganda media is saying about AFRICA, AGRICA has about 90% of the fastest growing Nations in the World today…2025 from SUDAN, to ETHIOPIA.
    Outside, of GUYANA (and oil is the reason) and INDIA, just about ALL OTHERS are in this blessed land and people, beings, demonised by the likes of Trump and his MAGA Klan.

    These African Nations are doing so, by shedding many of those laws of European origin, to those which gives them the powers to thrive.

    At the moment, the PROPOGANDA MEDIA, a very useful element in the WAR to control others, is helping Trump and his allies, to do this demonisation, unabated, no fact check, no black lawyers, think tank in the DIASPORA is using their powers, to dispel such myths.

    Again…Africa is thriving because they have reorganised their CONSTITUTION, to match their nature. Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, even SHESAMANE (Rasta Homeland – the land grant given by Haile Selassie, to the Pipers as the caretakers of the grant/deed for Pan Africanist to return and life freely, help develop their ANCESTRAL LANDS); Rasta took up the offer, in the 1960’s and along with the OROMO People have built a thriving Community, that even GASSY GASTON, de #Bald_Head Ras, took his CARICOM Counterparts there, for what should have being, their 1000 ANNIVERSARY MEETING, to link AFRICA & CARICOM, but, as always it was their FIRST HEADS OF CARICOM GOVERNMENT MEETING, to finally, link the CARIBBEAN and AFRICA, as they should.

    Again, the 90% of the fastest growing economies in the HUEman world for 2025 are in AFRICA, and ALL are of HUEmans with the darker HUES of life, let’s not forget, GUYANA & INDIA are of darker HUEman too. Yes, the 90% is doing so, with CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS!

    NUFF LOVE FOR BURKINA FASO, RWANDA, CHAD, IVORY COAST…

    ….dddddiiiiiiiidddddddd iiiiiiiiioaaaajh stutterrrrrrrring.
    Did I stutter?!

    Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
    De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾 Garrat_Bsstard

    Vere Edwards

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