Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
| Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda | |
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| Style |
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| Member of | Cabinet, National Security Council |
| Appointer | Governor-General Prime minister must have support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives |
| Term length | Five years renewable |
| Formation | 1 November 1981 |
| First holder | Vere Bird |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda |
| Salary | 150,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars/US$ 55,555 annually[1] |
| Website | https://opm.gov.ag/ |
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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. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet, selects its ministers, and exercises much of the executive powers afforded to the office under the Constitution. The prime minister holds office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the House of Representatives, of which they must be an elected member of.[2][3]
The power of the prime minister has fluctuated throughout the position's existence. While the Governor-General has been described as the de facto head of state, in whom all executive power is vested in, the prime minister has always been the head of government and has exercised his powers similar in fashion to an executive president in most liberal democracies. The prime minister, along with Cabinet, is responsible for proposing new legislation and setting an agenda, usually codified by acts of parliament or statutory instruments.
The history of such an office began in 1872 with the colonial president, who oversaw the island in subordination to the island's governor. This office was later superseded by the positions of administrator, chief minister, and premier, each of which gaining more executive power as the islands moved toward independence. Four men have served as prime minister, the first being Vere Bird taking office on 1 November 1981. The longest serving prime minister was also Vere Bird, who served for 12 years, and the shortest serving was his son Lester, who served for ten years. Gaston Browne succeeded Baldwin Spencer as prime minister on 13 June 2014, following the 2014 general election.
Appointment and tenure
[edit]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]
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]
Acting prime minister
[edit]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]
Responsibilities
[edit]The prime minister advises the Governor-General on appointments to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda. 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 dismiss the Prime Minister or dissolve parliament in the event of a successful vote of no confidence.[3]
List
[edit]This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda. They are listed in order of office (Vere Bird is shown in order of his first premiership).
References
[edit]- ^ Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. "The Ministers and Parliamentarians Salaries Act" (PDF). laws.gov.ag.
- ^ a b c "Antigua and Barbuda 1981 Constitution - Constitute". www.constituteproject.org. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda" (PDF).
This article incorporates public domain material from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.