Antigua and Barbuda

Introduction

Antigua and Barbuda is a unitary state situated at the northern end of the Leeward islands in the eastern Caribbean. Its population is 64,481 on a land area of 342 sq km.

Antigua and Barbuda is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is HM Queen Elizabeth II represented by a governor-general appointed on the advice of the prime minister.

The head of government is the prime minister. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister. Parliament is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 17 members of the House of Representatives are elected by universal suffrage for a term of up to five years. The Senate is appointed by the governor-general as follows: 11 – one of whom must be a resident of Barbuda – on the advice of the prime minister; four on the advice of the leader of the opposition; one on the advice of the Barbuda Council; and one at the discretion of the governor-general.

On Antigua there are six parishes that act as administrative units, namely: St George, St John, St Mary, St Paul, St Peter and St Philip. Barbuda has an island-wide local authority.

Summary

In order to address secessionist sentiments in Barbuda, the 1981 Constitution includes constitutional protection for the Barbuda Local Government Act. The Barbuda Council is the island-wide authority of local self-government. It deals with community and domestic affairs. Its council comprises the Barbudan representatives to the national Parliament, nine elected members and a government-appointed member.

There is no local government on Antigua.