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Browne says constitutional reform may be necessary if obstruction continues
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has suggested that the ongoing tension between the central government and the Barbuda Council may ultimately lead to a referendum on whether the local body should be dismantled.
Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne said the council has increasingly acted as an impediment to national development, rather than a partner.
“If this thing continues, we will put the issue on a referendum, you know, and Antiguans decide to dismantle the council,” Browne stated.
The Prime Minister said that while the Council was constitutionally established to manage the affairs of Barbuda, it has often served to obstruct progress. He questioned whether its continued existence serves the public interest.
“I’m beginning to wonder if that council was not a mistake in the sense that, you know, Sir Vere was trying to satisfy the late Sir Claude Earl (Franics),” he said, referring to the political compromise that led to the Council’s formation. “But having that kind of duplication, especially when the council becomes obstructive…”
Browne challenged the logic of having a separate governance structure only for Barbuda. “If Barbuda has a council, should Bethesda have one? Should Old Road have one? Should Freetown have one?”
He acknowledged that dismantling the Council would not be straightforward. “There’s a constitutional provision, so we’ll have to have a referendum…”
The remarks reflect escalating frustration over land rights, local governance, and resistance to central government initiatives on the sister island.
The Prime Minister has previously accused the Barbuda Council of stalling development projects, including housing, infrastructure, and land adjudication efforts.
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Yes it’s true that any change in the constitution will require a referendum. However the People of Barbuda at Lancaster did not want to be a part of the unitary state of Antigua and Barbuda. That is why a council was set up.
Now if we will be voting for a referendum to get rid of the council. Who are going to vote. The people of Barbuda will be out numbered of course since Antiguans will be voting in this referendum. This will not be fair to the people of Barbuda.
So as far as I am concerned the council election is a referendum in itself in which direction the Barbudans want their country to go.
What we need a referendum for is to have elections for the senate. You will get people who or community oriented, community activist, community conscious individuals in the senate. As it stand right now the House of Senate/ UPP house is a rubber stamp.
Next in the referendum list should be removing the King as our head of state. We should be voting for a Governor General. The Governor general should not be tied to any political party. Stop having a Prime Minister with the power to single handily appoint and disappoint.
Next on my the list of constitutional changes are term limits for Prime Ministers. Let’s make it a three term limit with a fix election date.
Any politician or government in power that will go for these is serious about our democracy.
@ Frankly speaking its rhetoric like yours that’s a big part of the problem. A&B is one nation hence decisions made have to be ones that benefit all or at least most. Antiguan’s tax payers have invested in Barbuda and your logic forgets this. During the discussion at Lancaster House (amazing that the population in Barbuda is the same as it was in 1981 and clearly shows the ABLP is correct in pushing for Barbuda’s development), it was pointed out that Antigua has interest in Barbuda. Let me quote Lord Lord Skelmersdale :
“I think that the noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, referred to the paper Comments on the Barbuda Memorandum, although he did not refer to it as such, in which it was stated that Barbuda can manage its own affairs: it has done so for many years and has no need of Antiguan help. The facts simply do not support this claim, nor does it sit well with Barbudan protests about alleged Antiguan failure to pay over moneys due. The plain fact is that Barbuda would not be viable on its own and needs Antiguan support, which has been promised through the medium of the constitutional conference and subsequently.”
And here is Lord Pitt:
“What I should like to see—I am sorry to have to disagree with my noble friend on the Front Bench and other speakers—is something quite opposite from what is being demanded. I want to see an attempt by Her Majesty’s Government to try to bring about a union of these little islands so that together they can become a state. If an island of 1,200 people can brief an eminent Queen’s Counsel to put its case, one has to ask where the finance is coming from. I have lived in the Caribbean: it was my home until I came here and I am still in touch. There are elements that are anxious to have a base somewhere in the Caribbean, and those elements
are encouraging every little territory to try to become independent on its own so that they can control it. It is for Her Majesty’s Government to recognise that fact and to stop fragmenting the Caribbean. We have suffered much too long from this fragmentation…Let us be clear as to what we are talking about in these matters, because I am afraid we are in danger of doing a tremendous amount of harm to the Caribbean—an area which needs unity. Because there are a lot of small islands it is easy for demagogues to have influence in an individual little island. If matters continue as they are I can assure your Lordships that we will have created a monster in that area and I beg the Government not to pay heed to these petitions, because they will get them all the time. That is why some time ago I raised with the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, the question of the promise the Minister of State gave to Nevis, because I think that was a bad promise. I hope the Government do not give a similar promise to Barbuda. We want to encourage the maximum amount of unity. Again, I say that Britain can play a major role in uniting this area. For Christ’s sake! stop attempting to divide it. I personally welcome this order and I also want to congratulate the Government on at last saying “No more fragmentation.”
Pure Bullshit
I am convinced that we now have a mad man as prime minister.
This is the utterances of a man who has a serious mental problem.
I guess if he feels defeated by residents of Old Road he will have a move to declare Old Road not anpart of Antigua.
Well Gassy the result of that referendum will be no better than that of the CCJ some years ago .
Bring it on Mad Man
Absolutely disgusting, if the people don’t want what you’re giving you can’t force them. Unacceptable to even suggest that. And yes community councils would be cool
Leave the Barbudans alone…. Ah Papa Bird say so, so my advise leave them with their land, mindset and their council allow them to separate themselves from Antigua. Why keep fighting a losing battle.
I hope the Barbuda council members will find away to work with the government of Antigua and Barbuda…. Because Gaston Browne is the Prime minister of both islands,and Papa Birds Said something years ago,the Prime minister have a right to access lands where nationals development is concern…
So every time Barbuda don’t agree, is talk about referendum?
Julius Malema is presently engaged in a war that was inadvertently orchestrated by his ancestors in leadership, who had the ideology like that of the TEN MILLION U.S DOLLAR MAN. At least, South Africa is making strides to at recovery while we are still in the middle of alienating ourselves. He and his team are proving to be a real House Negroes.
Such statements are not helpful and are likely to create more friction and antagonistism. Look beyond the walls – be a leader that creates bridges and not see Barbudans as those people on the other side. You are a skillful leader. Dialogue and communication is what is needed…..not confrontational rhetoric.
Mr. PM a referendum won’t do it. Just use the power given to you by the law and the constitution to develop Barbuda. There is no higher power then that of the Prime Minister in Antigua and Barbuda. Therefore you being the elected prime minister of our twin island state should act accordingly. The Council is not an equal branch of government. It is just a local branch to administer the affairs of the island. They do not make laws in the council. Yes they are elected public servants. But that is how far their authority goes. And you should look into whether or not it is legally just that the council can take the government to court with the same government taxes. There is something wrong with this in my view. An NGO can take the government to court because they pay for the court case out of their own pocket.
So, because the PM can’t easily get what he wants from Barbudans he wants to call for a referendumon on Barbuda. Barbuda is a separate piece of landmass. Freetown, Old Road Bethesda etc are villages inside of Antigua. How dare you try to equate them as the same. Your Trump like bullying style is on full display. (Trump want to annex Greenland because Denmark refuses to sell). Is your obsession over Barbuda truly about improving the lives of Barbudans — or it is more about the expansion of the family’s business? This is a sickening move!
When a bill was tabled to remove the current Head of State that bring Jung Charles
AG Steadroy Benjamin said “It’s not time yet”
So will such an idea be the first proposed Referendum to change the Constitution?
All the comments are interesting but do you all realize that any changes to the constitution has to be approved by the sitting Council ,that’s why the drafters of the constitution entrenched certain regulations into the constitution
@The love of money is the root of all evil. April 1, 2025 At 12:10 pm
So because we have water separating us makes them different. Then you do not seem to understand what a Unitary State is. Youn have many Island Groups that are separated by waters but are one. Like Sint Vincent and the Grenedines. And many other Archipellos in the world. Just now Jumby Bay will be considered a seperate Island from Antigua and so to would be Maiden Island and Green Island and Rhodonda. Your argument doesn’t make sense whatsoever. We are one Unitary State. One Prime Minister, One Governor General, One Parliament, One Police Force, One Army One People. One Passport. One National Anthem.