A member from the Religious Community opened the deliberations of the Cabinet Meeting chaired by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne. The Minister asked for God’s blessings on the proceedings of the Cabinet and prayed divine guidance for each member as they execute their respective functions and members of government.
- Cabinet commenced with the Chairman commending the Hon. Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, the Hon. Henry Charles Fernandez for an impressive hosting of the Caribbean Tourism Marketplace taking place in Antigua and Barbuda with over two dozen hotel reps from across the region taking part, the largest gathering for the event in recent years. Cabinet commended Minister Fernandez for his constant involvement in the organization of the event, which Prime Minister urged members of the Cabinet too also stay on top of developments in their various Ministries. The promotional materials utilized at the Tourism Marketplace, (particularly a virtual reality experience) were singled out for their effectiveness. Cabinet agreed that they should be utilized in the overall promotion of Antigua and Barbuda. The Cabinet acknowledged that Antigua and Barbuda in a very short period had established itself as a premier conference destination. The Cabinet agreed that it will pursue a programme to increase the capacity of conference facility offerings with the retrofitting of the former Deluxe cinema, which is expected to add an additional 1000 seats in addition to the expansion of the University of the West Indies Lecture Theatre. Antigua and Barbuda will host the Organization of American States (OAS) Fifty-Fifth Regular Session of the General Assembly in June and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2026, which will have in attendance over 50 Heads of State and the Head of the Commonwealth King Charles and Queen Camilla.
- Cabinet agreed to a request tabled by Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin for Antigua and Barbuda to be the host venue for the Caribbean Law Enforcement Leaders’ Cybersecurity Symposium on the 8th and 9th of July. The event will be hosted by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS) in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. The event will again to enhance cross-jurisdictional cooperation and information sharing, provide expert analysis of emerging cybercrime trends and investigative responses and facilitate direct dialogue between law enforcement, policy makers, regional registries, and judicial stakeholders.
- Cabinet invited Permanent Secretaries, Union Representatives within the Public Service, the Financial Secretary, the Solicitor General and other senior officials to its meeting to address public sector service inefficiencies, worker accountability, union relations, and efforts to reform and professionalize the public sector in Antigua and Barbuda. The meeting, which was an introduction towards the production of an outcome document on Performance Improvement was addressed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne with other members expressing their views on the matter. Prime Minister highlighted the issue of chronic inefficiencies and abuse to include widespread absenteeism and abuse of sick/leave days and senior officials being hesitant to discipline workers due to fear of perceived political backlash or perceived protection of staff. On the issue of accountability and discipline, the Prime Minister outlined that while Ministers and not civil servants have ultimate control over ministry decisions as per the Constitution, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments must hold staff accountable and take disciplinary action where necessary.
In addressing the union representatives, Prime Minister encouraged dialogue with unions and pointed out that Government is open to discussions and has a track record of addressing union concerns reasonably. The Prime Minister said that there is the need to develop a culture of optimal performance and responsibility, emphasizing the need for professionalism regardless of political affiliations. Prime Minister acknowledged that there are committed public servants, but systemic issues remain in the service.
In addressing the need for reform and upskilling, the Prime Minister announced the collaboration between the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus and Harvard University in the development of modules for public management training for senior officials, which will be mandatory. He emphasized the need for upskilling, reskilling and staying current with knowledge for better service delivery in the sector, stating that promotions may require completion of this programme.
While appealing to the senior public sector officials and department heads to step up leadership, improve internal communication, and ensure efficient execution of government policies, Prime Minister reiterated the government’s vision of transforming Antigua and Barbuda into and economic powerhouse and outlined the critical need for an alignment of public service delivery with national development goals.
The Permanent Secretaries and other senior officials will be invited to Cabinet next week for a continuation of the engagement. They are expected to address their challenges and provide suggestions for the improvement of the sector.
- The Minister for Health and Wellness, the Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, addressed the Cabinet regarding the importance of launching a public awareness campaign on prostate cancer. This initiative would run alongside the government’s ongoing education efforts on cervical cancer. The Cabinet endorsed the Minister’s proposal and approved the engagement of a local expert to advise on and oversee this aspect of the campaign.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the deployment of a mobile testing unit to regularly travel across the country, offering screenings for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This initiative will involve both health professionals and trainee nurses and aligns with current programmes supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Cabinet also endorsed the initiative to support and encourage the training of a greater number of nurses, aimed at strengthening both the Antigua and Barbuda health sector and the international community.
The Cabinet further agreed to enlist two prominent doctors to help design and implement a public education campaign on NCDs. This campaign will also highlight the risks associated with smoking and will utilize the Government Information Service (GIS) along with all major social media platforms to reach the public. The Cabinet expects this programme to be implemented in 30 days.
- The Cabinet commended the Minister for Social and Urban Transformation, the Hon. Rawdon Turner, for his outstanding efforts in the ongoing cleanup of St. John’s. The Cabinet further directed the Minister to expand his focus to include a nationwide initiative targeting the removal of derelict vehicles and the reduction of indiscriminate littering.
The Minister informed the Cabinet that his ministry is in the process of developing a public education campaign to address these concerns. To support immediate action, the Cabinet approved the appointment of additional litter wardens, who will be assigned to serve in the communities where they live.
- The new public cemetery at Tomlinson’s will be opened on June 16, 2025. The Ministry of Works has completed the roads and parking apron within the cemetery. The Ministry is now carrying out ancillary work on the facility readying it for the June 16 opening.
- The Cabinet approved a request from the Hon. Minister for Sport, Daryll Matthew, to provide funding for members of the Under-19 (U19) national cricket team to travel to the United Kingdom in July to participate in a series of competitive matches.
The Cabinet recognized this initiative as a valuable opportunity for the development of young athletes, offering them the chance to showcase their skills, gain international exposure, and benefit from enriching experiences through sport. The matches will also promote sportsmanship and cultural exchange among the participating teams.
Cabinet concluded its deliberations at 1:30 in the afternoon to facilitate members to attend the Official Funeral of former member of Parliament, the Hon. Hilson Baptiste who was laid to rest following a funeral mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Maurice F. Merchant
Office of the Prime Minister
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So life can really exist without LieNuHell Max Hurst????????????
Wow!!!!!
I thought Antigua would cease to exist whenever Max himself was unavailable.