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The Barbuda Council has committees that may be created by the by-laws of the council or under the Barbuda Local Government Act that are responsible for departmentalising the functions of the council and delegating the tasks of the council. [1]
The Barbuda Council may make bylaws governing meeting times and procedures, member attendance, and the format and sequence of discussions, as well as the selection of committees, committee constitutions, their composition, regulation of committee proceedings, and its committees' conduct of business. [2]
The Barbuda Council secretary undertakes the required preparations for the council's and its committees' meetings. [3] The secretary of the Council must also attend all meetings of the committees. [3] The secretary of the council or the chairperson of the committees may call meetings of the committees whenever they feel it necessary. [4] A majority of the members present and voting at a meeting shall decide on each subject before the committee. [5] The chairperson of a Committee, as the case may be, has an initial vote and, in the event of a tie, a second or casting vote. This applies to any item that must be decided by a vote at a meeting of the council or a committee thereof. [6] Any committee member who is present at a meeting of the committee where the matter is to be considered has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, by himself or his partner in any contract, proposed contract, or other matter, must disclose his interest at the meeting, refrain from participating in any discussion or consideration of the matter, and withdraw from the meeting during such discussion. [7]
The Barbuda Council is required to establish a finance committee, a works and general purposes committee, and a health and social welfare committee at its first meeting of the year. A council member is eligible to serve on multiple committees. [8] The council is free to create any other committees it sees proper for either general or special reasons. [9]
The Barbuda Council may assign any duties that fall under its purview—other than the authority to create bylaws, raise money, approve yearly budgets, or borrow money—to a committee that it has appointed. It may do so with or without restrictions. [10]
With the appointment of the new chairperson on January 16, 2024, the composition of the Barbuda Council committees stays the same. The chair of the committee on health, social welfare, and disaster relief is Wayde Burton, sports and youth affairs, agriculture, lands, fisheries, and coastal protection is John Mussington, and finance is chaired by Barbuda MP Trevor Walker.
In addition, Fitzroy Warner chairs the Utilities Committee, Nadia George chairs the Tourism and Culture Committee, Melanie Beazer chairs the Education Committee, and Nico Antonio chairs the Works Committee. [12]
| Committee | Chair | Deputy Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | Trevor Walker | Fabian Jones |
| Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and Costal Protection | Devon Warner (later Fabian Jones) [14] [15] | Trevor Walker |
| Tourism and Culture | Sharima Myers | Melanie Beazer |
| Sports and Youth Affairs | Nadia George | Devon Warner |
| Works and General Purposes | Nico Antonio | Wade Burton |
| Education and Training | Melanie Beazer | Jackie Frank |
| Health, Welfare, and Social Welfare | Mackenzie Frank | Wade Burton |
| Utilities | Wade Burton | Mackenzie Frank |
| Committee | Chair | Deputy Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Finance, Education & Training | Trevor Walker | Fabian Jones |
| Health | Nadia George | Kendra Beazer |
| Works | Wayde Burton | Devon Warner |
| Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries & Coastal Protection | Devon Warner | Kendra Beazer |
| Tourism & Culture | Jacklyn Frank | Sharima Myers |
| Utilities & Energy | Kendra Beazer | Wayde Burton |
| Sports & Youth Affairs | Sharima Myers | Devon Warner |
| Committee | Chair |
|---|---|
| Health, Social Welfare and Disaster | Nadia George |
| Finance, Education and Training | Trevor Walker |
| Tourism, Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs | Asha Frank |
| Works and General Purposes | Calsey Beazer |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Marine Resources and Coastal Protection | Kendra Beazer |
An attempt was made to create six committees, with the Barbuda People's Movement and the Labour Party each chairing three, however, this did not succeed. [18]
The politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a unitary parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, wherein the sovereign of Antigua and Barbuda is the head of state, appointing a governor-general to act as vice-regal representative in the nation. A prime minister is appointed by the governor-general as the head of government, and of a multi-party system; the prime minister advises the governor-general on the appointment of a Council of Ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Barbuda is an island located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda as an autonomous entity. Barbuda is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. The sole settlements on the island are Codrington and its surrounding localities. Barbuda is a flat island with the western portion being dominated by Codrington Lagoon, and the eastern portion being dominated by the low-lying Barbuda Highlands, with salty ponds and scrubland spread throughout the island. The climate is classified as tropical marine.
The Barbuda People's Movement is a centre-left Barbudan nationalist political party in Antigua and Barbuda active only on the island of Barbuda. The party's symbol is the European fallow deer, national animal of Barbuda. The party seeks the secession of Barbuda from Antigua and Barbuda.
The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda consists of the King of Antigua and Barbuda, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral parliament. Each of the constituencies created in accordance with section 62 of the Constitution shall elect one representative to the House in a direct election in accordance with the procedures specified by or pursuant to any law, subject to the rules of the Constitution. Unless he is prohibited by law from registration as a voter for the purpose of electing a member of the House, every Commonwealth citizen who is eighteen years of age or older and who meets the requirements relating to residence or domicile in Antigua and Barbuda as prescribed by Parliament is entitled to be registered as such a voter in accordance with the provisions of any law in that regard, and no other person may be registered. Every person who is registered to vote in any constituency shall, unless prohibited from doing so by any law, be entitled to vote in accordance with the provisions of any law in that regard in any election of members of the House in that constituency. Voting is free and must be done by secret ballot in accordance with any rules that Parliament may impose during House member elections.
The Senate is the Upper House of Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. It consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor General. Ten members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council, one resident of Barbuda on the advice of the Prime Minister, and one at the Governor General's discretion. Subject to the provisions of Section 30 of the Constitution, any person who at the time of his appointment: is a citizen; is twenty-one years of age or older; has lived in Antigua and Barbuda for the twelve months immediately prior to the date of his appointment; and is able to speak and, unless disabled by blindness or another physical condition, to read the English language with enough proficiency to allow him to take an active part in the proceedings.
The Barbuda Council, officially the Council of Barbuda, is a local authority that manages the internal affairs on the island of Barbuda. The council has the authority to buy, acquire, hold, mortgage, and dispose of land and other property. It also possesses a common seal and perpetual succession. The Barbuda Council, which has the authority outlined in the Barbuda Local Government Act, is the government of the island and its coastal zone. The members of the Senate who meet the requirements outlined in paragraph (1) of section 6 of the Barbuda Local Government Act, nine elected members, and the member of the House of Representatives from the Barbuda constituency make up the Council. A Commonwealth citizen who is eighteen years of age or older, was born in Barbuda, is the child of parents who were at least one of their parents' birthplaces, or who has lived in Barbuda for at least three years prior to the date of their nomination for election, and who is a regular resident of Barbuda and a registered voter under the Representation of the People Act are all required to be eligible to be elected as a member of the Council.
President of the Senate of Antigua and Barbuda is the presiding officer in the Senate of Antigua and Barbuda. Prior to conducting any other business, the Senate must elect a senator to serve as president when it convenes following a general election.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB), is a unitary constitutional monarchy, where the Monarch of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of state, represented by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of government.
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda is the executive branch of the government of Antigua and Barbuda. Section 70(1) of the Constitution establishes the Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister and as many other Ministers as the Prime Minister deems necessary, one of whom will be the Attorney-General and will be nominated in accordance with section 69 of the Constitution. Only the Prime Minister or, in his absence, the Minister the Prime Minister appoints in that regard, may call the Cabinet to order.
Sir Ronald Michael Sanders is an Antiguan Barbudan diplomat, academic, former broadcast-journalist, and the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and to the Organization of American States (OAS) since 2015. He holds the unique distinction of being the first person, since the OAS enlarged its membership in 1962, to serve as Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS for an unprecedented three terms. He completed his highly successful third term on December 31, 2023, having played a widely recognized role in guiding the work of the Permanent Council in the peaceful transition of government in Guatemala on 14 January 2024.
Antigua and Barbuda competed at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11, 2019.
Trevor Myke Walker is a Barbudan politician, current member of parliament for Barbuda, and former Cabinet Minister under the Baldwin Spencer administration. He is a member of the Barbuda People's Movement, a party that seeks the independence of Barbuda from Antigua and Barbuda.
The Chairperson of the Barbuda Council is the leader of the Barbuda Council. Established by the Barbuda Local Government Act of 1976, the first council election was on March 22, 1979.
The National Security Council of Antigua and Barbuda was established in 2006 by The National Security Council Act of 2006. The council serves as the government's main forum for debating issues pertaining to national security, coordinating the policies and actions of the government's departments and agencies in this area, and carrying out any duties assigned to it by legislation. Establishing priorities among activities that address national security interests and requirements, ensuring the collection and collation of information and intelligence relating to Antigua and Barbuda's national security and the integration of that information and intelligence into the government's domestic, foreign, and security policies, and approving policies for departments and agencies of government to follow in relation to national security are all part of the Council's duties. The Council may also recommend to the Minister related to these policies.
The Supreme Audit Institution of Antigua and Barbuda, co-officially known as the Office of the Director of Audit, is the supreme audit institution of Antigua and Barbuda, and as such, assists the Parliament in holding the government accountable in management of the country's finances and operations. The institution describes itself as "an independent, constitutionally established office that exists to serve Parliament."
The Secretary is the chief executive officer of the Barbuda Council. The current secretary is O’Sheri Cannegieter.
The collaboration of numerous institutions, including law enforcement, military, paramilitary, governmental, and intelligence agencies that seek to ensure Antigua and Barbuda's national security.
