Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda
Incumbent
Gaston Browne
since 13 June 2014
StyleThe Right Honourable
His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member ofCabinet, National Security Council
Reports toGovernor-General
AppointerGovernor-General
Prime minister must have support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives
Term lengthFive years
Formation1 November 1981
First holderVere Bird
DeputyDeputy Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Salary150,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars/US$ 55,555 annually[1]
Websitehttps://opm.gov.ag/

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda is the head of government of the Antigua and Barbuda. The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda is appointed by the Governor-General under the terms of the Constitution.

The executive branch of government is established in section 68 of the constitution, and it is vested in the monarch. The prime minister is appointed by the Governor-General. The prime minister must either be a member of the House and the leader of the political party with the support of the majority of the House's members; or the member of the House who, in the opinion of the Governor-General, is most likely to command the support of the majority of members of the House, if it appears to him that such party does not have an indisputable leader in the House or that no party commands the support of such a majority. Additionally, the nominee ought to be open to serving as prime minister.[2][3]

Only the Prime Minister or, in his absence, the Minister the Prime Minister appoints in that regard, may call the Cabinet to order.[2][3] Under section 73 of the constitution, the Governor General must revoke the appointment of the Prime Minister in the event that the House passes a resolution declaring its lack of confidence in the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister fails to resign from office or advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament within seven days of the resolution's passage.[2][3] If parliament is dissolved, and a prime minister must be appointed, a person who was a member of the House immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as Prime Minister or any other Minister, and a person who was a member of the Senate immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as any Minister other than Prime Minister.[2][3]

The Governor-General may authorize another member of the Cabinet to perform those functions (other than the functions conferred by section 74(2) of the constitution) when the Prime Minister is not present in Antigua and Barbuda or is unable to do so due to illness or because of the restrictions of section 73(4) of this Constitution. That member may perform those functions until the Governor-General revokes his authority.[2][3]

Appointment and tenure

The Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda regulates that the prime minister must be a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader in the House of the political party that has the support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives. If there is no party that has an undisputed leader, or no party that maintains the support of the majority of the House of Representatives, the Governor-General may appoint a member that is most likely to maintain the support of the majority of the members, and who is willing to hold the role of prime minister.[3]

The Office of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is located in Botanical Gardens. It however is not the official residence. V.C. Bird used Tomlinson House as his official residence. Funds to build an official residence for the prime minister were instead used to build the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

If a prime minister must be appointed while Parliament is dissolved, then, a person who was a member of the House of Representatives immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as Prime Minister.[3]

Responsibilities

The prime minister advises the Governor-General on appointments to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda.

Chief minister of Antigua (1960–1967)

Elizabeth II (1960–1967)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Vere Bird
Vere Bird
(1910–1999)		1 January 196027 February 19677 years, 57 daysABLP1960
1965

Premiers of Antigua (1967–1981)

Elizabeth II (1967–1981)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Vere Bird
Vere Bird
(1910–1999)		27 February 196714 February 19713 years, 352 daysABLP—
2
George Walter
George Walter
(1928–2008)		14 February 19711 February 19764 years, 352 daysPLM1971
(1)
Vere Bird
Vere Bird
(1910–1999)		1 February 19761 November 19815 years, 273 daysABLP1976
1980

Prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda (1981–present)

Elizabeth II (1981–2022)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Vere Bird
Vere Bird
(1910–1999)		1 November 19819 March 199412 years, 128 daysABLP1984
1989
2
Lester Bird
Lester Bird
(1938–2021)		9 March 199424 August 200410 years, 168 daysABLP1994
1999
3
Baldwin Spencer
Baldwin Spencer
(born 1948)		24 August 200413 June 20149 years, 293 daysUPP2004
2009
4
Gaston Browne
Gaston Browne
(born 1967)		13 June 2014Incumbent9 years, 217 daysABLP2014
2018

Charles III (2022–present)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
4
Gaston Browne
Gaston Browne
(born 1967)		13 June 2014Incumbent9 years, 217 daysABLP2014
2018
2023

References

  1. ↑ Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. "The Ministers and Parliamentarians Salaries Act" (PDF). laws.gov.ag.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Antigua and Barbuda 1981 Constitution - Constitute". www.constituteproject.org. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda" (PDF).

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from documents of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

See also

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