This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression and association and the right to peaceful assembly in Antigua and Barbuda from October 2025 to August 2026.
Context
Prime Minister wins fourth term in snap elections
On 1st April 2026, Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, dissolved Parliament under section 60(1) of the Constitution, triggering elections nearly two years before the expiry of the parliamentary term. The outgoing Parliament had first met in February 2023 and could ordinarily have continued for five years unless sooner dissolved. The general election was announced on 7th April and held on 30th April 2026.
Incumbent Prime Minister Browne won an unprecedented fourth consecutive electoral victory, while the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) secured 15 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives. The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) won one seat, while Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) retained the Barbuda constituency. Only two women were elected, representing 11.8 per cent of the elected House.
A six-member Election Observation Mission from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of American States (OAS) concluded that on election day voters were able to exercise their vote peacefully, in an orderly manner and without significant incident, and commended polling staff and police for their conduct.
The Commonwealth, an intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth's aims of development, democracy and peace, noted that the compressed timetable placed pressure on voter registration and verification processes and raised questions about whether all eligible voters had sufficient opportunity to confirm their status. It also recommended reforms concerning the independence of the Electoral Commission, constituency boundaries, “and improving the regulation, transparency and enforcement of campaign finance rules.”
Parliament passes amendments expanding search warrant powers
In June 2026, Parliament passed the Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2026, broadening the circumstances in which magistrates may issue search warrants. The House of Representatives approved the Bill on 16th June, followed by the Senate on 29th June 2026.
The amendments expand the existing warrant regime by allowing a magistrate, on the basis of sworn evidence and reasonable cause, to issue a warrant where any offence is being or has been committed, or where evidence relating to an offence is believed to be located at the place to be searched. The Bill also allows evidence relating to other offences discovered during execution of a warrant to be brought before a magistrate.
The expansion prompted debate over privacy, proportionality and safeguards against arbitrary searches. Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle questioned whether allowing warrants for offences “of any kind” could result in disproportionate intrusions if adequate safeguards were not maintained, while MP Trevor Walker raised concerns about the treatment of evidence relating to offences outside the original scope of a warrant. During the Senate debate, Senator Malaka Parker called for clearer safeguards governing the application for and execution of warrants, and the seizure and retention of property, digital devices, legally privileged material and subsequent judicial oversight.
We should invest in training, forensic science, digital investigation, modern case management and clear professional standards. That is how we improve conviction rates, reduce successful procedural challenges and build lasting public confidence in our justice system. The rule of law is strengthened not by giving the State unchecked power, but by ensuring that every exercise of power is lawful, transparent and accountable.
- Opposition Senator Malaka Parker.
Constitutional oath amended to replace allegiance to the British monarch
On 18th December 2025, the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda (Amendment) Act 2025 (Act No. 22 of 2025) repealed and replaced Schedule 3 of the Constitution, which sets out the oath of allegiance required of certain public officeholders. The new provision requires them to swear or affirm that they will “faithfully bear true allegiance to the State of Antigua and Barbuda, its Constitution and laws”, replacing the previous requirement to swear allegiance to the British monarch.
The reform had a practical consequence following the April 2026 general election. At the initial swearing-in of Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin on 1st May, officials inadvertently administered the former Crown-based oath. The Office of the Governor-General acknowledged the error and administered the new legally prescribed oath at a second swearing-in ceremony. It said the repeat ceremony was necessary to ensure compliance with the amended law and confirmed that the official records had been corrected.
Very strong support for the United Nations-based multilateral system
On 23rd June 2026, a report tracking the countries’ engagement with the UN system ranked Antigua and Barbuda second. The Index of Countries’ Support for UN-based Multilateralism measures countries’ support to UN-based multilateralism via six indicators such as the ratification of major UN treaties and the General Assembly votes with the international majority. Antigua and Barbuda earned the second-highest ranking in the world for its support of the United Nations-based multilateral system, just after Barbados.
Association
Environmental and land defenders secure full hearing in long-running airport challenge
On 1st June 2026, environmental and land defenders John Mussington and Jacklyn Frank appeared before the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda for a full hearing of their long-running judicial review challenge concerning the development of the new Barbuda airport. Supported by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the claimants argue that construction began unlawfully before the required development permit had been obtained and that the subsequent approval process was affected by failures relating to environmental assessment and public consultation.
The case dates back to 2017, when construction of the airstrip began shortly after Hurricane Irma, while much of Barbuda’s population had been forcibly evacuated. As Barbudans struggled to return and rebuild, the central government cleared land for a new airport and private jet terminal, overriding the Barbuda Council. According to GLAN, “Barbudans are now facing a series of land grabs by big developers across the island who are seeking to extract maximum profit from the island while actively undermining Barbuda's traditional system of communally held land.”
The June 2026 hearing followed a significant ruling in favour of Mussington and Frank by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 27th February 2024. The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal had previously held that they lacked sufficient standing to pursue judicial review. The Privy Council overturned that decision, finding that the Court of Appeal had adopted an unduly restrictive approach to standing.
The airport that is under challenge by John Mussington and Jackie Frank is a classic case of disaster capitalism. In the wake of Hurricane Irma, while Barbudans were displaced, developers started building an airport – with no regard for its environmental impact, for the people of Barbuda, or for their legal obligations. John and Jackie have been fighting against this for 9 years. They fought all the way to the Privy Council in the United Kingdom and established that the people of Barbuda had the ability to challenge their governments in this way; a precedent that is having significant impact in the Caribbean. Now, finally, they will have their day in domestic Antiguan and Barbudan courts.
- Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, GLAN lawyer.
The Privy Council stated that its approach to standing was consistent with Antigua and Barbuda’s international obligations under the Escazú Agreement, referring in particular to Article 7 on public participation in environmental decision-making. Therefore, the ruling restored the claimants’ ability to have that issue examined by the domestic courts: “The decision recognised John and Jackie’s standing in line with Antigua and Barbuda’s international obligations under the Escazú Agreement which calls for transparency and broad public participation in decision-making in environmental matters. This was the first judgment in the Caribbean to utilise this progressive international instrument.”
Trade unions encouraged to give more attention to human rights issues
In July 2026, a three-day workshop facilitated by Public Services International and the FNV Rainbow Network gathered representatives from several trade unions to discuss the implementation of the principles of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. One of the goals was to broaden the focus beyond traditional labour issues to be attentive to situations of discrimination. One of the messages was to promote the rights of LGBTIQA+ workers in public services unions.
[…] A number of our unions are not focusing as much as perhaps they ought to be on human rights issues.
- Public Services International Sub-Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, Sandra Massiah.
ILO raises concern over anti-union protections for public servants
In an observation adopted in 2025 and published in 2026, the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), the independent body that assesses states’ compliance with international labour standards, again raised concerns about Antigua and Barbuda’s implementation of the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151), which the country ratified in 2002. The Committee said it had repeatedly asked the government to ensure adequate legal protection for public servants and their organisations against anti-union discrimination and interference, but that the authorities had not demonstrated tangible progress.
Expression
Journalist alleges prolonged failures to respond to freedom of information requests
On 3rd March 2026, investigative journalist William “ZiZi” Thomas reported that two government ministries and the Office of the Information Commissioner, the independent body responsible for overseeing access to public information, for prolonged failures to respond to requests submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2004 (FOI). Thomas said he had hand-delivered one request to a ministry on 28th January 2025 but had received no response more than a year later. He said a second ministry had also failed to acknowledge or respond to another information request.
Thomas said that in May 2025 he contacted Information Commissioner Anthony Athill seeking assistance after the first ministry failed to respond. According to Thomas, Athill outlined steps that could be taken to require the ministry to address the request, but Thomas said he received no further communication or decision from the Commissioner. At the time of writing, publicly available information does not establish whether Thomas lodged the written complaint required under section 41 of the FOI to trigger the Commissioner’s formal complaints procedure.
Although Anthony Athill was sworn in as Information Commissioner in December 2024, institutional challenges continued. In June 2026, the government acknowledged in Parliament that the dedicated premises intended for the Commissioner’s office were still not ready, with further work required before they could be occupied.
The allegations arose amid longstanding concerns about the effectiveness of the FOI in practice. In its 2024 Annual Report, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recorded complaints about failures by public authorities to respond to information requests and calls to strengthen implementation of the FOI.
Prime Minister threatens multimillion-dollar civil defamation action against opposition-affiliated radio presenters
On 14th February 2026, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced that he had instructed lawyers to pursue a civil defamation claim against opposition-affiliated Progressive/Crusader Radio and presenters Hilary “Croife” Emmanuel and Joan “Juicy Joan” McEwin, seeking approximately USD $2.5 million over statements he alleged were defamatory. Progressive Radio is owned and operated by the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP).
McEwin is a radio host whom the UPP Women’s Forum had previously recognised for political activism, while her programme has been described as a Progressive Radio talk show. Following Browne’s announcement, Emmanuel publicly challenged Browne to proceed with the threatened legal action.
Contempt ruling against workers’ representative overturned following criticism of labour justice system
On 27th March 2026, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s Court of Appeal overturned a contempt ruling against industrial relations consultant and workers’ representative Anderson Carty, as reported by the media. The case stems from comments Carty made during a live radio programme criticising the functioning and perceived impartiality of the labour justice system. In November 2023, the Industrial Court had found him guilty of indirect contempt, concluding that his remarks undermined confidence in the court and suggested that it favoured employers.
The Industrial Court reportedly ordered Carty to retract his statements, submit a written apology for the court’s approval and broadcast the apology on the same radio programme. Carty did not comply and appealed, challenging, among other things, the Industrial Court’s jurisdiction to make the contempt order. The Attorney General’s Chambers, representing the Industrial Court, accepted during the hearing that the Industrial Court lacked jurisdiction to make the order, while maintaining that it remained binding unless overturned on appeal. The Court of Appeal subsequently set aside the contempt decision in its entirety and awarded Carty EC$2,000 in costs, according to the report.
The ruling came amid separate concerns Carty raised about delays in the Industrial Court. In February 2026, he said that more than two dozen labour cases involving workers he represented were still awaiting judgments, in some instances years after hearings had concluded. He argued that the delays were preventing workers from obtaining timely access to justice.
Peaceful Assembly
Government settles long-running civil servant case while disputed restriction remains in statute
On 11th March 2026, the government of Antigua and Barbuda reached an amicable settlement with former civil servant Elloy de Freitas. In its official announcement, the government said the agreement resolved outstanding issues, including the payment of agreed legal costs, and described the settlement as reflecting commitments to justice, reconciliation, fundamental rights and the rule of law.
The case arose after De Freitas, then an Extension Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and Housing, participated in a series of peaceful demonstrations in September and October 1990 concerning allegations of government corruption. He was later fired. According to media reports, in 1997 the ministry’s Permanent Secretary alleged that his conduct breached section 10(2)(a) of the Civil Service Act, which restricted civil servants from publicly communicating information or opinions on matters of national or international political controversy. De Freitas challenged the resulting disciplinary measures, arguing that they infringed his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In February 1993, the High Court declared section 10(2)(a) unconstitutional and granted de Freitas relief. The Court of Appeal reversed that decision in 1995, but in June 1998 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council allowed de Freitas’s appeal and restored the High Court’s orders. The Privy Council rejected the application of the restriction as a blanket rule applying equally to all civil servants regardless of their position or responsibilities, finding that such an indiscriminate restriction had not been shown to be reasonably required for the proper performance of public servants’ functions. It also upheld de Freitas’s constitutional challenge concerning fundamental freedoms.
Despite the judgment, the text of section 10(2)(a) remains in the version of the Civil Service Act. The March 2026 settlement announcement did not indicate whether the government intended to introduce legislation formally removing or amending the provision. The Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association has previously called for amendments to the Act following the De Freitas litigation.
Public workers protest over safety and unpaid wages
During the reporting period, workers across several public institutions in Antigua and Barbuda staged protests, walkouts and sit-ins over workplace health and safety, unpaid compensation and other unresolved employment grievances. Several trade unions supported the actions, which often followed months or years of unsuccessful efforts to resolve disputes through administrative processes or collective bargaining. Some of the main actions were as follows:
- On 12th November 2025, employees at the Ministry of Tourism protested over mould and other workplace conditions that the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA) said were affecting workers’ health. Union representatives said severe mould had forced the closure of some offices and alleged that concerns had persisted for months despite earlier testing and requests for repairs. Following the protest, authorities sent employees home to allow cleaning and Public Works roof repairs to take place.
- On 27th November 2025, employees across several Ministry of Agriculture departments withdrew their labour over longstanding occupational health and safety concerns and unpaid compensation. The Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) cited leaking and mould-affected buildings, inadequate sanitation and protective equipment, unsafe electrical and structural conditions and unpaid overtime, some of which it said had remained outstanding for several years. Union representatives said workers acted after repeatedly raising the issues with the ministry and after officials postponed a meeting intended to address their grievances.
- On 10th February 2026, employees of the Office of National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP), the government agency responsible for drug-control and anti-money-laundering policy, took industrial action over conditions at its Camp Blizzard facility. According to the People’s Union, a Department of Analytical Services assessment had reportedly identified mould and excessive moisture. The People’s Union said earlier complaints had not produced an adequate response and that workers would remain off the job until the authorities conducted a comprehensive assessment and addressed the concerns.
- On 9th March 2026, employees of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), the state-owned provider of electricity, water and telecommunications services, walked off the job and gathered at its headquarters over wages, pensions and working conditions. The AT&LU sought a 10 per cent wage increase for the 2025-2028 collective-bargaining period, payment of outstanding pension contributions and repairs to workplaces where it alleged health and safety problems. Following talks between the union, APUA management and Public Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas, the union ended the action and instructed workers to return to work after receiving commitments that outstanding demands would be addressed within a specified timeframe. APUA separately disputed the legality of the industrial action, arguing that statutory restrictions on strikes in essential services applied to employees providing electricity, water and telecommunications services.
- On 10th March 2026, employees at the Government Printery, which produces official government publications and documents, staged a sit-in over deteriorating and unsanitary workplace conditions, including pigeon droppings falling into work areas during prolonged building repairs. The government subsequently closed the facility temporarily for cleaning and repairs.
- On 13th April 2026, around 40 employees at the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board’s Long Street branch took industrial action over health and safety concerns and delays in staff appraisals linked to salary increments. The Antigua and Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU) said workers had repeatedly requested access to assessments concerning suspected mould and would not return until they received adequate information about workplace safety. A reduced staff continued providing services while the Labour Commissioner and the Social Security Board held discussions with workers’ representatives.
Now, we have had some concerns with management and the chief two concerns involve the completion of employee appraisals and the payment of associated increments, and most importantly, matters of health and safety.
- Samuel James, the President of the Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU).
- On 28th July 2026, Public Works Department employees protested over unpaid overtime, outstanding salaries and uncertainty about the employment status of contract workers, marching to the Office of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Browne acknowledged workers’ right to protest and apologised for delays in payment, while the government said it was processing outstanding amounts. Some workers nevertheless said the dispute remained unresolved. On 31st August, employees again marched to the Prime Minister’s Office, saying that payments promised after the July protest had still not been received in full.
Death in custody sparks protest and calls for accountability
On 20th August 2026, around 50 people picketed outside His Majesty’s Prison, the country’s main prison, demanding justice and answers over the death in custody of Rashawn Shabazz. Shabazz died on 23rd July 2026 following a police-assisted operation to remove him from his cell. According to police and prison authorities, Shabazz was due to undergo a medical assessment after reportedly refusing psychiatric medication for several weeks. Police opened an investigation, and Attorney General and Public Safety Minister Steadroy Benjamin announced that a Coroner’s Inquest, a judicial inquiry into the cause and circumstances of certain deaths, would be held.
Family and supporters sustain protests demanding accountability for fatal police shooting of teenager
Between September and November 2025, relatives, friends and community members held repeated peaceful protests demanding accountability for the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Kahleel Simon in Bolans, a community in western Antigua. Simon was fatally shot during an encounter with police on 27th August 2025. His family and other community members alleged that the officer involved used unjustified force and did not give Simon sufficient opportunity to comply before opening fire. Police launched an investigation and said the circumstances of his death would be referred to the Coroner for a Coroner’s Inquest.
In response, Simon’s family organised demonstrations outside Police Headquarters and Bolans Police Station, carrying placards and calling for transparency, a thorough and impartial investigation and accountability for any officer found responsible. For example, on 22nd September, 3rd and 31st October, a small group of people demonstrated outside Police Headquarters. Mobilisation continued into late November. On 28th November, relatives and supporters again protested outside Police Headquarters, expressing frustration at what they regarded as the slow pace of the investigation and continuing lack of answers. Police said investigators were continuing to gather evidence and witness statements and would submit the completed file for a Coroner’s Inquest.
By March 2026, police said the investigation had been completed, and the file would shortly be submitted to the Coroner. No public outcome of a Coroner’s Inquest was identified during the reporting period.
Rastafari community call for stronger recognition of sacramental cannabis use
On 6th June 2026, members of the Rastafari community, a religious and cultural movement with roots in the Caribbean, held a peaceful demonstration outside St John’s Police Station. Protesters called for fairer treatment of people arrested or imprisoned for cannabis-related offences. Carrying Rastafari flags and placards, they chanted outside the police compound and spoke with members of the public about cannabis law reform, incarceration and the religious use of cannabis within Rastafari practice.
Protesters said that imprisonment should not be the primary response to minor cannabis offences and called on policymakers and law-enforcement authorities to review existing laws and enforcement practices. They also stressed that cannabis, commonly referred to as ganja within Rastafari communities, has a sacramental role in Rastafari religious practice and called for greater recognition of its spiritual and cultural significance within the legal framework. Organisers said they intended to continue advocating for further reform and stronger recognition of Rastafari rights.
In March 2023, the Nyabinghi Theocracy Church, the Ras Freeman Foundation for the Unification of Rastafari and Wan Love Chant received Antigua and Barbuda’s first formal sacramental authorisations to cultivate cannabis under the Cannabis Act 2018. The authorisations represented an important recognition of Rastafari religious practice, but the June 2026 protest indicated that members of the community continued to raise concerns about “inconsistencies in the enforcement of laws surrounding cannabis possession and use.”
Vigil for the respect of Venezuela’s sovereignty
On 22nd January 2026, a small group of Venezuelan nationals and supporters gathered at the Venezuelan Embassy in Piggotts, a community in Saint George parish in Antigua, for a vigil following the US military operation in Venezuela earlier that month. Venezuela’s ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda led the vigil. Protesters expressed solidarity with Venezuela and called for respect for the country’s sovereignty and national unity.