Executive to Continue Running Country After Parliament’s Dissolution, Merchant Says
Antigua and Barbuda will continue to be run by the executive after the dissolution of Parliament, with Cabinet stressing that the constitutional move simply clears the way for general elections.
“The country, however, continues to be managed by the executive, being the cabinet,” Maurice Merchant, director general of communications in the Prime Minister’s Office, said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing.
Merchant said Cabinet had been informed that the proclamation dissolving Parliament was officially published in the Gazette on Wednesday, April 1, as a statutory instrument dated March 31, 2026. The proclamation was issued by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams on the advice of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, he said.
“With the dissolution of Parliament, all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate cease to hold their seats and the country now moves into the general election period,” Merchant said.
He described the dissolution as “a normal constitutional process” that “marks the end of the current parliamentary term, making way for the people of Antigua and Barbuda to elect a government.”
The Cabinet statement comes as the country prepares for elections expected within 90 days. Asked about the timing of an announcement, Merchant said he was sure the prime minister would make it “very soon,” adding: “Within the next 90 days.”
Merchant also urged eligible voters to prepare for the polls by ensuring their registration is current and their voter identification cards are valid.
“The public is encouraged to ensure that they are properly registered and that their voter identity cards are in order in preparation for the upcoming general elections,” he said.
He said the government remains committed to ensuring that the election is conducted “in a free, fair, transparent and orderly manner in keeping with the country’s democratic traditions.”
At the close of the briefing, Merchant returned to the election theme, urging Antiguans and Barbudans to “get your cards validated” and participate in the democratic process as the country heads to the polls.
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If they cease to hold their MP position, how is it they still have executive power? Make this make sense to me, please.
At this time, the Governor General should be running the country and not the ABLP cabinet whose power have cease to exist when their duty as MP ended.
@My Way Of Helping…. You are an arse. You claim to be a student of the law and don’t even understand this basic provision of the Constitution. The government is comprised of three branches, namely the Judiciary, the Parliament, and the Executive (Cabinet). Each branch is independent of the other. Therefore, the dissolution of the Parliament does NOT affect the Executive nor the Judiciary. A person does NOT have to be elected to be a member (Minister) of the Executive, and that is why Senators, who are appointed, can be Ministers (members of the Executive). Why should the Governor General, who is not a member of the Executive, be running the country? How does that make sense when Constitutionally the Governor General holds absolutely no executive authority? Please go take a read of the Constitution before you prove yourself to be the fool that many people suspect you to be.
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