The Antigua and Barbuda government has announced a raft of new measures aimed at improving security, particularly as it relates gun-related crime and violence on the island.
A statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting said that ministers held ‘extensive discussions on the recent increase in gun-related crime and violence and examined additional measures to strengthen the country’s criminal justice system, including sentencing, prosecution, prison administration and law-enforcement capacity’.
According to the statement, Cabinet reaffirmed that the Gaston Browne government will continue to pursue a comprehensive response to serious crime, combining stronger law enforcement with legislative reform and improvements throughout the criminal justice system.
‘Cabinet agreed that the Government will shortly take legislation to Parliament to establish minimum and maximum sentences for serious gun crimes and sexual offences committed against minors,’ the statement said, noting that before the proposed legislation is brought to Parliament, the government will undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders to obtain their views and ensure that the proposed measures receive appropriate legal and technical consideration.
‘The decision represents a further development in the Government’s continuing examination of sentencing policy. Parliament has previously increased the maximum penalties applicable to serious firearm offences, while Prime Minister Browne has repeatedly expressed concern that some sentences imposed for gun crimes have not provided a sufficient deterrent,’ the statement said.
It said that Cabinet emphasised that the proposed legislative process will be undertaken within the constitutional framework governing the respective responsibilities of Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary, a reference no doubt to the various statements that had been issued by local, regional and international law associations following earlier critical statements by Prime Minister Browne over the ‘light’ sentences imposed on repeat offenders.
The statement said that Cabinet also approved immediate measures to strengthen the country’s prosecutorial capacity and will provide for the employment of up to five additional lawyers to bolster the prosecution team within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Cabinet also agreed to the provision of full scholarships to two police officers to pursue the law programme at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus and upon graduation, they will join the prosecution team within the DPP Office.
Cabinet also approved the digitization of the records management system within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, noting that the initiative is expected to improve the storage, retrieval and management of police records and strengthen the ability of investigators and prosecutors to access relevant information in a timely manner.
The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Prison Rules governing the remission of prison sentences, with the matter being presented to Cabinet by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Labour, Sir Steadroy Benjamin.
Cabinet was advised that under the existing Rule 211, a prisoner serving a term exceeding one month becomes eligible for unconditional release after completing two-thirds of the term of imprisonment, subject to any days forfeited under the applicable Prison Rules.
The Attorney General advised Cabinet that remission remains an important component of the rehabilitation process and is provided for under the Prison Act, Cap. 341. Cabinet therefore determined that the principle of remission should be retained, but that the existing rules governing its application should be strengthened.
‘Under the amendment approved by Cabinet, a prisoner who satisfies the prescribed requirements after completing two-thirds of his or her sentence may become eligible for consideration for remission, rather than becoming automatically eligible for unconditional release.
‘The amended Rule 211 will require the Superintendent of Prisons to make a recommendation to the Governor General where a prisoner is considered suitable for remission. The prisoner may then be discharged pursuant to the remission granted,’ the statement said, noting that the change therefore introduces an additional level of consideration and oversight into the process while preserving remission as an incentive for industry, good conduct and rehabilitation within the prison system.
The Attorney General also drew Cabinet’s attention to Section 84 of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, which provides for the exercise of the Governor General’s powers in relation to pardons, respites, the substitution of less severe punishment and the remission of sentences, in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing the exercise of those powers.
Cabinet approved the proposed Prison (Amendment) Rules, 2026, thereby authorizing the necessary steps to bring the revised remission arrangements into effect.
The statement said that Cabinet received a presentation from a United States-based company on the potential deployment of advanced drone technology to strengthen the country’s national security and public-safety capabilities.
‘The presentation outlined a proposed National BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) Security Network, utilizing drone technology and supporting command-and-control systems to provide enhanced aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities.
‘Cabinet was informed that, with the appropriate regulatory approvals and operational framework, drones could be deployed rapidly to reported incidents, allowing dispatchers and security personnel to obtain an aerial assessment of situations before officers arrive on the ground.
‘Cabinet was advised that visible and repeatable aerial patrols could also serve as a deterrent to criminal activity, particularly in identified hotspots and other areas requiring increased security attention,’ the statement said, noting that ‘no final decision has been taken on the acquisition or deployment of the proposed system’.