Bowen Welcomes Mental Health Push, Housing Expansion and Regional Peace Efforts
Opposition MP Sherfield Bowen struck a rare conciliatory tone during the United Progressive Party’s response to the 2026 Throne Speech, highlighting several government initiatives he said deserve national support even as he criticised other parts of the agenda.
Bowen said the expansion of housing across Antigua and Barbuda is a positive step, noting that “increase in the housing stock is honest and it’s good,” and adding that homeownership brings families greater independence.
He also backed the continued development of The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, praising it as a national investment in education and opportunity. “I had the benefit of education, and I would want to see each and every family have a university graduate in the home,” he told the audience.
The St. Philip South MP also welcomed the government’s stated plan to prioritise mental health, describing the issue as urgent. Bowen recounted seeing an elderly woman living at bus stops and later lying on the roadside near the stadium, calling the situation heartbreaking. “If that doesn’t bother you, you are not a human,” he said.
Bowen urged policymakers to bring legislation and policy action to address homelessness and mental illness, calling for “some needed relief” for vulnerable residents.
On regional affairs, Bowen voiced full support for Antigua and Barbuda’s stance against the use of lethal force on fishing vessels in the Venezuela maritime zone.
He said the country’s endorsement of the Caribbean “Zone of Peace” framework is an important step in preventing violence and instability at sea. “I definitely endorse the Zone of Peace project,” Bowen said, adding that he hopes regional leaders can jointly provide direction on the issue.
Bowen also welcomed plans to rebuild the Parliament building to properly house the family court and described the initiative as “a good thing” if completed. He said improved facilities are needed to ensure the justice system functions effectively.
Despite his broader criticism of the Throne Speech, Bowen said he would “always say things are good when they are good,” stressing that issues such as accessible education, expanded housing, mental health reforms and regional diplomacy deserve bipartisan acknowledgment.
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