Government Bench moves Motion to correct ‘irregularity’ in Honours Committee and include civil society in membership

The composition of the National Honours Committee has been
adjusted to correct what the Browne Administration is calling an
oversight.

The Parliament was convened on Monday, October 23, solely to pass
a Resolution to correct the Government’s error and appoint the
members who will sit on the committee in accordance with the
National Honours Act.

According to last week’s Cabinet Notes, the Executive considered
and accepted a recommendation to make an adjustment to the
composition of the National Honours Committee.
 
By law, the Committee has seven members: four appointed by the
Government; two by the Opposition; and one by the Governor-
General.
 
However, the Executive reportedly agreed that – in order to bring
more balance to the composition – the legislation should be
amended: The members appointed by the Government would be
reduced from four to three, and civil society would be accorded the
right to nominate a member to the Committee.
 
Attorney-General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said the discrepancy in
the composition was brought to his attention after the committee
had sat and selected this year’s Independence honours awardees.

Four persons were nominated from the Lower House to serve as
members of the Committee: the Members for St. John’s Rural East,
St. John’s Rural South, St.  John’s City East, and All Saints East and St.
Luke, who represents the Opposition bench.
 
The Committee should have met on Monday afternoon, October 23,
to regularize the irregularity made by their predecessors.
 

Meanwhile, St. Phillip’s South MP Sherfield Bowen had expressed
some concern about the composition of the Committee, stating that
no committee had been in place since December 2022; therefore,
any meeting of the body would have been in breach of the
Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda.
 
In the meantime, Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle suggested that
the Honours Committee be put in place after a General Election – at
the same time that other important committees – such as the Public
Accounts Committee – are being set up.

This, he said, will avoid the Government having to come before the
Parliament to correct things that are not in keeping with the laws.
 
Attorney-General Benjamin agreed with Pringle’s suggestion and
promised this would be done, going forward, as part of a holistic
approach to these issues.