Correct Oath Administered After Swearing-In Error Involving Prime Minister and Attorney General

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PM Browne and Attorney General

PRESS RELEASE: CORRECTION TO SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – The Office of the Governor General wishes to advise the public of a corrective administrative measure taken regarding the recent swearing-in ceremony for the Prime Minister and the Attorney General.

It was observed that during the initial proceedings, an earlier version of the Oath of Allegiance—swearing allegiance to the Crown—was inadvertently administered. Under the Oaths Act 2025, which came into effect on 1st January, 2026, the prescribed form of the Oath of Allegiance has been updated to reflect the nation’s evolving constitutional identity. 

The current and legally required Oath of Allegiance, as set forth in Schedule 1 of the Act, requires the following declaration:

“I, [Name], [swear by Almighty God] [solemnly and sincerely, declare and affirm] that I will faithfully bear true allegiance to the State of Antigua and Barbuda, its Constitution and laws.”

Upon recognition of this oversight, His Excellency the Governor General acted immediately to ensure full compliance with the law. In accordance with his authority to tender oaths to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General as specified in Schedule 2, a second swearing-in ceremony was conducted. Both officials have now successfully taken and subscribed to the correct Oath of Allegiance to the State of Antigua and Barbuda, its Constitution, and its laws. 

The Governor General’s Office remains committed to upholding the constitutional standards of our nation and regrets any confusion caused by this inadvertent error. The records of the state now reflect the valid and updated oaths as required by the Oaths Act 2025. 

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17 COMMENTS

  1. I want to know who going home for this – complete stupidness and incompetence from within the Office of the Governor-General, who ever is responsible should be shame and sent home without pay

  4. I want to know who going home for this – complete stupidness and incompetence from within the Office of the Governor-General, who ever is responsible should be shame and sent home without pay

  6. They made the blunder in full view of the world.
    It was carried live on national television and radio.
    Now that it has been discovered that it was an error why was it corrected in the dark?
    Why didn’t we have the camera on hand to see and hear the correct oath taken?
    When was the corrective oath administered and where?
    I will believe it when I see evidence.
    Until such time I think this is too small a lie for an Adventist to go to hell.
    Dont be dragged into lies Sir Rodney.
    Neither Gaston nor Cutie do not believe in the existence of God nor a god.
    Lying is second nature.
    Dont join them in marching into hell.
    You are in your twilight days.
    Dont become a slave to dollars.

  7. Not even 72 hours re-elected, and the ABLP have reverted back to slackness and guesswork.

    Is this some sort of unwanted record?

    Oh well, we get what we voted for. Enjoy YOUR Prime Minister 🤣🤣🤣

  9. Lady Vicky, you tend to make a big issue out of everything, and that approach may be one of the reasons people are rejecting the party you support.

  10. @ Audrey Dave Joseph (a.k.a. Beef) we are all creatures of habit. The Governor General’s Office is no exception. To my mind it was an honest mistake. The amended Oath came into law on the 8 January, 2026. Yes, we know that laws come into existence after getting the signature of the Governor General. However, this is the first time that the Governor General’s Office was called upon to administer the new Oath (that does not excuse the error but could explain it). The new Oath was first used in Parliament when Randy Baltimore was sworn into Parliament on 16 March, 2026 after his by-election win on 10 March, 2026. Again, I put this error down to the Governor General or his staff being creatures of habitat. It was simply an honest mistake. Take it easy Beef and sleep well.

  11. wadad1, is that not a big issue? Well there’s no surprise why all other issues like the Vehicle Thefts, The PM’s Signature Forgery, Nigel Christian’s and Asot Michael’s Murders and everything else that we know to be real issues, are being treated as second nature.

  12. I can bet if they did not point out and correct the most of you would not even realize the mistake.

  13. WHAT THE HELL…@CHARLES TABOR: …A COMEDY OF ERRORS: HONEST MISTAKE…? …INEXCUSABLE: …FORGETFULNESS- MENTAL BLOCK…?
    ***
    WELL:
    My esteemed friend, no matter what explanation given by ‘…YOUR GOOD SELVES:

    (a) ‘…SEEMS INEXCUSABLE: (No blame to Secretaries):

    (b) ‘…THE MIS-SUBSCRIBED OATH OF ALLEGIANCE: speaks

    (c) …TO A COMEDY OF ERRORS OR …MENTAL BLOCK.’

    ***

    HERE IS WHY:

    (i) ‘…AMENDMENT TO THE ‘…OATHS ACT (chapter 297): was

    (ii) …INTRODUCED/TABLED AT PARLIAMENT: by

    (iii) …MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SIR STEADROY ‘CUTIE’ BENJAMIN KGCN:

    (iv) …DEBATED BY THESE PARLIAMENTARIANS, AND OTHERS: then

    (v) …PASSED BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS (both Houses): then

    (vi) …GIVEN ASSENT BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR RODNEY WILLIAMS GCMG, KGN, KstJ:

    (vii) ‘…IT TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2026.’

    ***
    NOW:

    THIS IS THE MONTH OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2026.’

    ***

    QUESTION

    ‘…HOW THE HELL ALL THESE ‘…FUNCTIONARIES, SHOULD FORGET: as

    (a) ‘…TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO ‘…KING CHARLES?’

    ***

    DARN LUCKY IT WAS NOT TO ‘…QUEEN ELIZABETH.’

    ***

    WHAT THE HELL…!

    ***

    WALK GOOD…! AH AH…! ‘…TALK STRAIGHT.’

    ***

  14. @ Charles Tabor: Only two (2) words “half-lawyer Tabor” (l.m.a.o.).

    Suppose I had written some sentences or a paragraph? Poor you.

  15. Problem spotted and corrected. Won’t happen again. Interesting that many of the same persons attacking ABLP for this mistake have no problem voting in a party which has made so many mistakes that the general public does not see them as worthy of leadership. Its under this government that the oath was changed

  16. @ RAWLSTON POMPEY my esteemed friend I hear you but still maintain it was an honest error made by the Governor General’s Office. Yes, the Oath was changed and the Prime Minister and Attorney General went to government house to be sworn into office. Would they know in advance what Oath the Governor General’s Officle had prepared. I would think not. It was an honest and embarrassing mistake and if I should blame anyone I would blame the Governor General’s Office.

  17. Mistake at that time is unacceptable! No matter how many excuses are made and by whom… UNACCEPTABLE! That same oath was amended by the sane people giving and saying it…how can that that be!? Somebody’s head needs to roll (figuratively of course). Sir Tabor, you need to stop 🛑!

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