Governor-General Appoints Kirwan as Independent Senator, Role Seen as Key Nonpartisan Voice

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Media Relations Specialist Jamilla Kirwan (Photo Credit- ABS)

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Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor-General has appointed Jamila Kirwan as the country’s newest independent senator, a move officials say highlights the nonpartisan representation built into the Upper House.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant noted during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing that the independent senator is the only member of the 17-seat Senate selected solely at the Governor-General’s discretion, without input from the government or opposition.

He said the appointment is intended to ensure at least one parliamentary voice sits outside party structures.

Kirwan was sworn in Thursday morning and joins the chamber ahead of a busy legislative period that includes next week’s 2026 national budget presentation and upcoming debates on building standards and public-sector reforms.

Merchant said the swearing-in occurred as ABS Television carried one of its most-watched weekly briefings, reflecting strong public interest in parliamentary activity. 

Kirwan will take her seat when the Senate convenes for budget discussions and other pending legislation.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. WHAT THE HELL …! …INDEPENDENT SEANATOR? …WHOSE INTEREST TO BE REPRESENTED? …WHO WAS ‘…KIZ JOHNSON….? …AN INDEPENDENT SENATOR…?’
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    NUMERICAL VALUE OR OPPORTUNISTIC…?:

    HOPE THE ‘…SENATORIAL VALUE’ IS NOT MERELY ‘…NUMERICAL OR …OPPORTUNISTIC,’ THEN OVERNIGHT, THEY ARE VYING FOR SOME DARN THING.

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    NOW:

    While no ‘…Organizational Affiliates,’ still, nowhere in the ‘…CONSTITUTION ORDER’ would anyone see the words’…INDEPENDENT SEANTOR.’

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    CABINET SPOKESPERSON WITH ‘…MISNOMER?’

    Simply call these words a ‘…MISNOMER.’

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    Still, congratulations to the ‘…APPOINTEE.’

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    QUESTIONS AS INDICATED IN THE CONSTITUTION:

    (i) ‘…WHO ARE THE INTERESTS SHE IS TO REPRESENT: and

    (ii) …JUST WHAT ARE THOSE INTERESTS?’

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    WELL:

    (i) ‘…THE SENATOR MAY WISH TO TALK WITH ‘…ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, SYLVIA O’MARDE

    (ii) …THE CABINET SPOKESPERSON MAY WISH TO VISIT THE ‘…CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION’ [CO: 1981: Section 28 (4) and (7).

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    WHAT THE HELL…!

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    WALK GOOD.

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  2. Just stop lying, there is a connection and entitlement, I national hero Viv Richards can’t speak independently without gaston hurling disrespect at our national hero, what can so call independence senator do?

  3. Talking about empowering the youth and women. This is a great example of picking the right persons to reflect our demographics.
    Don’t know much about her debating skill though. Our former Carnival Queen gets another crown. I’ll watch her performance closely in the Upper House of Parliament. Budget debate is her first test.
    Congratulations young Miss Kirwan.
    Oh and she is also a breast cancer survival. You are blessed my dear. The GG has made the right choice again.

  4. Well my friend Mr. Pompey I guess INDEPENDENT simply means you are not there as a result by selection of either the Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition. Section 28 of the Constitution gives the Governor General the power to select someone in his discretion to represent certain interests that he might have in mind. In any case, it is similar to Anthony Smith in the Lower House when he resigned his Party Whip and became INDEPENDENT which simply means he is not an official member of any Party. Since the matter did not go through the Court we will not have a judicial meaning of INDEPENDENT according to section 41 (1) (e) of the Constitution.

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