The Legislative Agenda

During its first term the UPP Administration executed an extensive legislative agenda. In stark contrast to the inertia and abuses that characterized successive ALP Administrations, the UPP diligently spearheaded the following legislation which served to improve the administration and delivery of criminal justice:

The Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Act 2004

The Evidence Act 2009 which allows for DNA evidence, witness anonymity, and electronic eavesdropping to combat serious crime; and

The Jury Act 2009 which modernizes the jury selection process and provides for alternate jurors in trials of capital offences.

Accountability and transparency were also high on the legislative agenda. Whereas the failed ALP regime had long promised but never delivered integrity legislation, it was a young UPP Administration that delivered the following to the people of Antigua & Barbuda:

The Freedom of Information Act 2004

The Prevention of Corruption Act 2004

In a determined effort to correct the abuse, neglect and misuse that defined the ALP’s reign the UPP also delivered:

The Barbuda Land Act 2007

The Stamp (Amendment) Act 2006 which reduced the stamp duty liability on the transfer of properties between parents and children while The Stamp (Amendment) Act 2008 reduced that liability on transfers between husbands and wives.

The Maintenance of and Access to Children Act 2008 which provides for the equal maintenance of and access to children of both parents and allows for orders to be enforced by attachment to parents’ salaries and financial assets.

The Millennium Naturalization Act 2004

The Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals (Amendment) Act 2007 which increased the category of skilled CARICOM nationals who were entitled to emigrate and work in Antigua and Barbuda without a work permit.

The Small Business Development Act 2007 which allows for a broadening of the base of business ownership by providing a regulatory framework to facilitate the growth of small business entrepreneurs with incentive concessions and tax exemptions and a mandatory right to 25% of government contract expenditure on purchases.

The Investment Authority Act 2006 which established an investment authority for the purpose of promoting investment opportunities by granting in a one-stop shop incentives and concessions to assist investors in establishing business enterprises.

One of the many shortcomings of the ALP was an absolute failure to update the nation’s laws. As a result, many of the country’s statutes are woefully outdated. This deficiency is perhaps most apparent with the country’s health oriented legislation which effectively serves to frustrate young, gifted Antiguans and Barbudans desirous of making a contribution and to erect unnecessary barriers for patients seeking to access effective healthcare.

The following trilogy of health orientated legislation will revolutionize future health care services:

The Medical Practitioners Act 2009 which replaces the 1937 regulatory scheme and allows for a broadening of the academic qualification requirements for medical practitioners and provides for provisional registration pending practical on-the-job training;

The Caribbean Accreditation Authority (Medicine and Other Health Professions) Act 2009 provides for the adoption of regional academic and professional standards and the accreditation of University courses to provide the necessary qualifications for our emerging physicians; and

The Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Act 2009 which will operationalize the newly built medical facility to provide improved health care in a much improved environment.

The New Agenda

While much has been accomplished in the first term, much remains to be done. Among the priorities for the UPP’s new legislative agenda are: Island-wide consultations on the Constitutional Review Report submitted in February 2002 towards the implementation of accepted recommendations. Issues like barring Antiguan-born citizens from membership in Parliament if they hold another citizenship, the anomalies between the appointments of the Supervisor of Elections and the Electoral Commission, the representative qualification of Senators away from purely political appointments, the establishment of a distinct Teaching Service Commission, and whether to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final court of appeal, need to be addressed as we approach 30 years of independence.

The introduction of a new Adoption of Children Act

A new Juvenile Justice Act which would introduce supervised community service in place of custodial sentences as we seek to rehabilitate and reform rather than exposing them to the counterproductive system of confining our youth with hardened criminals.

Legislation to address the issue of administrative supervision of deportees entering the State, and the mandatory deportation of noncitizens convicted of serious crimes.

The repeal and replacement of the fragmented Immigration and Passport Act

A Small Craft Control Act to control water sports on our various hotel beaches and provide a measure of safety to our beach users. In a related initiative, The Vendors Act will be amended to provide a measure of security and reduce the incidents of visitor harassment, offensive behaviour, and drug trafficking for a better visitor experience worthy of repeat.

The licensing of premises which sell liquor by retail needs to be rationalized to allow for different licenses with different time frames for different establishments given the nature of their business.

Introduction of a Charities Act to provide for the incorporation and administration of organizations with charitable objects.