The prayers before Cabinet were led by a Pastor from the Evangelical Association who read from Psalm 112 which is a short wisdom psalm that describes the blessings and character of a righteous person who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments.
In summary Psalm 112 portrays the godly life as one of integrity, generosity, and unshakable trust in God. It emphasizes that true blessing and stability come from reverence for the Lord, not from worldly power or wealth. The Pastor prayed that members of the Cabinet will be guided by Psalm 112. He prayed for wisdom and their families.
1. The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, Chaired by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne with him providing an update on the status of Antigua and Barbuda students pursuing studies in Jamaica and the Republic of Cuba, two countries that were affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The Government secured 53 Antigua and Barbuda students in the Pegasus Hotel for a period of seven days. The students are now preparing to return to their respective universities to recommence studies on Monday 3rd November.
Cabinet members thanked God for protecting our students and prayed for the families of those individuals who perished during the passage of the storm. The Cabinet expressed its wish for a swift return to normalcy in Jamaica and Cuba and agreed to provide assistance to aide in the recovery process.
Cabinet agreed to provide the following assistance:
- Provision of healthcare supplies
- Military Personnel
- APUA Linesmen
2. The General Manager of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) briefed the Cabinet on the commencement of the All Saints Road HDPE Pipeline Project as part of APUA’s ongoing water network modernization programme and to seek Cabinet’s endorsement of the project schedule and implementation plan.
The existing 16-inch cast iron pipeline along portions of All Saints Road has reached the end of its useful life and has been the source of frequent leaks and reduced hydraulic efficiency. As part of APUA’s strategic initiative to modernize the national water distribution system, the Authority has developed a replacement plan utilizing High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines, which offer enhanced durability, hydraulic performance, and reliability.
The project entails the replacement of the existing 16-inch cast iron main with 20-inch and 12-inch HDPE pipelines along sections of All Saints Road. The new pipeline will improve flow capacity, pressure stability, and overall network reliability, thereby reducing service interruptions to consumers in the area.
Expected Outcomes
• Enhanced water distribution capacity and reliability along All Saints Road.
• Reduced incidence of leaks and system failures.
• Improved water quality and supply pressure for consumers.
• Modernized infrastructure aligning with APUA’s long-term water network improvement goals.
3. Cabinet:
• Highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Government’s financial operations and strengthening internal controls within the Treasury Department, Customs and Excise Division, and the Inland Revenue Department.
• Acknowledged that the absence of regular rotation of officers in sensitive positions responsible for payments, revenue collection, or financial authorizations can increase the risk of collusion, fraud, and weak accountability.
• Agreed that a strategy for the periodic rotation of officers in key financial positions across the Treasury, Customs, and Inland Revenue Departments, consistent with good public financial management practices, should be developed with technical assistance from CARTAC and other appropriate experts.
• Agreed that the Ministry of Finance should request the technical assistance and/or engage the appropriate expertise as a matter of priority to ensure establishment and enforcement of an effective rotation programme for officers occupying high-risk or sensitive positions.
• Further agreed that the Financial Secretary shall, upon consultation with the Minister, rotate or transfer officers between the Treasury, Customs, Inland Revenue, or other departments and units of the Ministry of Finance to support reform initiatives aimed at strengthening public financial management, enhancing accountability, and improving performance.
• Directed that the Financial Secretary submit periodic updates to Cabinet on the development and implementation of the rotation strategy.
4. Last week we reported that Cabinet decided that effective November 30th, all Tax Concessions granted to all businesses and entities in Antigua and Barbuda will cease to exist. All businesses and active projects may re-apply to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda effective 1st December 2025.
The Cabinet has decided this week that any new concessions granted will expire in three years. Applicants will be required to attach existing concessions when making a new application from 1st December.
