CABINET NOTES: Wednesday 22nd  October 2025

The prayers before Cabinet were led by a Pastor from the Evangelical Association who read from Psalm 24 which reminds us that everything belongs to God — the earth, its people, and all that fills it. He is not only the Creator of the world, but also its rightful Ruler. This truth calls us to humility and gratitude; our lives, our gifts, and our surroundings are all entrusted to us by Him.

In its closing verses, the psalm lifts our eyes heavenward:  “Lift up your heads, O gates… that the King of Glory may come in.”  When we open the gates of our lives — letting go of pride, fear, and distraction — the King of Glory enters in with strength, peace, and purpose.

The Pastor prayed that members of the Cabinet will be enriched with strength, grace, wisdom and courage in the execution of their duties.

1. Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Gaston Browne held discussions on  the unauthorized purchases of vehicles for the government of Antigua and Barbuda, and the  review by the Financial Secretary of information received on such purchases to determine where there have been unauthorized purchases and other irregularities, and to negotiate and settle restitution for any excesses.

The Cabinet was advised that the Financial Secretary commenced discussions with the car dealerships and through reconciliation, restitution in the amount of $10 million dollars was recovered by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda from one car dealership.  The Financial Secretary will continue discussions with another car dealership with the intention of negotiating and settling the repayment of revenues lost.

Cabinet also approved the implementation of a new Government Vehicular Policy, which will be rolled out within the next fourteen (14) days. Key provisions of the policy include:

• Establishment of an Advisory Committee to oversee vehicle allocations and usage
• Allocation of vehicles based on the duties of ministries and departments
• Vehicles are to be used only for authorized government services
• Passengers must be on official government business, except in emergencies or with prior authorization
• Vehicles unsuitable for use, or exceeding five years of service, must be disposed of via public auction
• All vehicles must be parked at ministry headquarters or designated locations upon completion of daily duties

In related matters, Cabinet agreed to relocate Transport Board and all of its busses and vehicles from the Government’s Motor Pool on Palmetto Drive to the Transport Board Headquarters in Herberts.

• The Cabinet of has been informed that the Finance Audit Team has commenced spot checks of containers moving through the St. John’s Port.

Following reports of government observing significant reduction in revenue from the Port and businesses not paying correct duties and taxes on imports, the Cabinet announced last week that it will engage private individuals and the Finance Audit Team to accompany customs officers to randomly inspect containers to ensure that manifested items comprise the contents of containers and that correct value are assigned to the imports.

The Cabinet has further expanded the team of individuals to carry out spot checks at the port to include law enforcement officers.  A special fund will be established to compensate individuals who will be selected randomly from a Register of competent private citizens of good standing to carry out the checks.  Individuals listed in the Register will be selected in a fashion similar to the Jury Duty selection process. 

The Cabinet has also identified a protected space at the Port Authority where the spot checks on containers will be executed, to be observed by a modern security system during the unpacking.

• Cabinet has decided that effective November 30^th, all Tax Concessions granted to all businesses and entities in Antigua and Barbuda will cease to exist.  All businesses and active projects may re-apply to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda effective 1^st December 2025. 

The Cabinet list the following as some of the reasons for the decision:

Policy Review and Alignment

• The government wants to review existing concessions to ensure they align with current economic priorities, sustainable development goals, and investment strategies.
  • It allows Cabinet to reassess which sectors or projects truly need support and which can operate without tax incentives.
  •  

Promoting Fair Competition

• As blanket concessions creates uneven advantages for some businesses over others.
  • Ending existing concessions and allowing businesses to re-apply ensures a level playing field, where incentives are targeted to projects that bring real economic value, such as employment, innovation, or real development.
  •  

Encouraging Compliance and Accountability

• The need for re-application ensures that businesses and projects meet updated criteria and adhere to proper regulations.
  • It strengthens transparency and accountability in the allocation of tax benefits.

Strategic Economic Planning

• This move gives the government an opportunity to align incentives with long-term national goals, such as green energy, tourism diversification, health and education development.
  • This also allows the Cabinet to phase out concessions that no longer serve the country’s interests.

• The Honourable Minister for Works informed the Cabinet that she, along with her team, has organized a Special Meeting and Workshop for all building contractors across Antigua and Barbuda. The event will be held at the John E. St. Luce Conference Centre, following the Independence celebrations.

The workshop will cover several key areas critical to the construction sector, including contract preparation, construction standards and the national building code, project management and planning, quality control and best practices, collaboration with government agencies, and labour and workforce development.

The session will be addressed by Senior Members of the Cabinet, including Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne and Sir Molwyn Joseph. It will also explore opportunities for training programmes for small contractors and initiatives to improve access to financing for construction projects.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet was informed that contractors are needed by the National Housing and Urban Development Company Limited to construct 15 new homes as part of the division’s Build on your Own Land Programme.

The areas selected for this construction are:

• Paynters
• Radio Range
• Villa
• Law pasture
• Clarkes Hill
• All Saints
• Jennings
• Cassada Gardens/ New Winthropes
• McKinnon
• Glanvilles
• Herbert’s

• The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has taken note of a letter of grievance submitted by the Antigua and Barbuda Pensioners Association (ABPA) to the Social Security Board, outlining several concerns related to the processing of pension applications, sick benefits, and recent pension policy changes.

The correspondence highlighted a number of areas including:

            •           Processing of pension applications;

            •           Sick benefits;

            •           Pension approvals for applications from 2020;

            •           Reports of customer service challenges faced by pensioners when seeking updates; and

            •           Concerns over the withdrawal of early pension benefits as of January 1, 2025, as well as calls for widow and widower pension reform to ensure fairness and parity.

Cabinet notes that the Social Security Board has received the Association’s letter and has commenced internal discussions on the matters raised. The Cabinet emphasizes the importance of a professional and timely resolution to the concerns, including better communication with pensioners regarding processing timelines and eligibility rules.

Cabinet agreed to monitor the ongoing discussions between the Social Security Board and the Pensioners Association to ensure that the areas outlined are addressed constructively and expeditiously.

The Cabinet reiterates its respect for the contributions made by the nation’s retirees and assures all pensioners that their welfare remains a priority of Government policy. The Government continues to work toward a modern, responsive, and financially sustainable Social Security System that serves the needs of both current and future generations.

• The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved the restructuring and modernization of the Treasury Department, following a detailed presentation by the Accountant General and Senior Members of his Team.

The presentation outlined both the current structure of the Treasury and the proposed organizational reforms designed to enhance financial management, improve accountability, and ensure greater operational efficiency within the public finance system.

Under the new structure, the Treasury will transition from six divisions to four specialized divisions — Financial Management, Cash Management, Financial Control, and Accounting — each led by dedicated senior officers.

The reorganization introduces:

            •           An additional Deputy Accountant General (DAG) position (raising the number from two to three);

            •           The creation of four new Assistant Deputy Accountant General (ADAG) positions;

            •           The establishment of new analyst and technical roles to strengthen financial reporting, reconciliation, and expenditure control; and

            •           The realignment of IT services from the Treasury to the Financial Secretary’s Office to enhance digital integration and oversight.

The reforms will create 13 new positions while removing 10 existing posts (including IT and redundant administrative positions), resulting in a net staff increase of three, from 65 to 68.

The Cabinet noted that the reorganization will deliver major governance improvements through:

            •           Clearer separation of duties between Financial Control and Cash Management divisions;

            •           Greater accounting independence and internal audit oversight;

            •           Enhanced professional specialization with the introduction of Treasury Analysts (TAs) and Senior Treasury Analysts (STAs); and

            •           Improved alignment with international public finance management standards.

The Cabinet mandated that the Accountant General and Financial Secretary report periodically to Cabinet on the progress of implementation and performance outcomes.

The Cabinet commended the Financial Secretary, Accountant General, and Budget Director and their teams for their leadership in modernizing the nation’s financial management architecture. These reforms mark a significant step toward achieving greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public funds.

• The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has given its approval for the establishment of a public–NGO partnership between the Government and the Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) for the creation and management of a 24-hour shelter dedicated to victims of gender-based violence (GBV).

The initiative is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the protection of vulnerable citizens. The proposed shelter will provide a safe space for survivors of abuse, offering comprehensive support services including counselling, vocational training, and empowerment programmes aimed at restoring independence and self-sufficiency.

Under the partnership, the Government will contribute five (5) acres of land to develop a women’s farm that will generate income to sustain shelter operations. Additional support will be provided through concessions on construction materials, staffing assistance via relevant agencies such as Public Works, National Housing, and the HAPPI Programme, as well as security coverage from the police or defence force and meal support through existing social protection programmes.

The IHO, as lead NGO partner, will manage shelter operations, coordinate donor funding, and oversee the associated social enterprise initiative. The collaboration will position Antigua and Barbuda as a regional leader in gender justice and GBV response, fulfilling commitments under international conventions such as CEDAW and the Beijing Declaration.

Following the presentation by Dr. Nicola Bird of the Integrated Health Outreach and Director of Gender Affairs, Jamie Saunders, Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to fostering partnerships that strengthen the nation’s social protection systems and ensure that survivors of violence receive the care, dignity, and support they deserve.

• The Cabinet has approved the immediate installation and upgrading of camera surveillance systems across all national public schools. Following a presentation by the Minister of Education, the Cabinet allocated funding for the procurement and installation of these systems in response to recent break-ins and security breaches at public school facilities.

This initiative is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing safety and security within the education sector, ensuring that students, teachers, and school property are better protected.

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