ST. JOHN, Antigua and Barbuda – 13th August 2026……Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Gaston Browne has proposed a wide-ranging independent review of Antigua and Barbuda’s criminal justice system, saying the country must ensure that every institution involved in public safety is functioning effectively in the face of increasing firearm violence and repeat offending.
In correspondence to Chief Justice Her Ladyship the Hon. Margaret Price Findlay, the Prime Minister outlined a proposal for an independent committee to examine not only sentencing practices but also the broader operation of the criminal justice system, including investigations, prosecutions, prison administration, rehabilitation and inter-agency coordination.
Under the proposed terms of reference, the committee would review sentencing outcomes for firearm and other serious violent offences over a defined five-year period, assess those outcomes against the governing legislation and Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Sentencing Guidelines, identify any divergence between legislative intent and sentencing practice, and examine the effectiveness of the wider criminal justice process.
The review would also consider charging and prosecution practices, the availability of criminal history and pre-sentence information, bail and remand procedures, prison release arrangements, offender supervision and rehabilitation programmes. In addition, the committee would assess repeat offending, where reliable data permits, and recommend legislative, procedural, policy and inter-agency reforms to improve public safety while respecting judicial independence.
Prime Minister Browne said regional evidence points to a troubling increase in firearm violence across the Caribbean and stressed that Antigua and Barbuda must carefully examine its own experience rather than rely solely on regional trends.
He argued that the people of Antigua and Barbuda are entitled to expect their elected Government, Judiciary and law enforcement agencies to respond to the challenge of crime with urgency, discipline and unity of purpose.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that his Government’s proposal is not a criticism of the Judiciary or an attempt to interfere with judicial independence. Instead, he said it represents the constitutionally appropriate way to convert legitimate public concerns into an objective, evidence-based review capable of producing practical recommendations for reform.
To ensure the review proceeds expeditiously, Prime Minister Browne proposed that the Chief Justice provide an initial response by 20 August 2026, that the committee’s membership and terms of reference be finalized by 31 August 2026, and that interim findings be submitted within 30 days of its appointment, followed by a comprehensive final report within 90 days.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to providing all necessary logistical support and information to the committee and expressed confidence that a collaborative, independent review would strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice while helping to reduce violent crime and repeat offending.
