COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN and SUMMARY Antigua and Barbuda is a bicameral parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with two levels of government, central and local. Local government consists of a single local authority, the Barbuda Council, which governs the affairs of the Barbuda dependency. There is no constitutional provision for local government across Antigua; however the Barbuda Council is enshrined in the constitution. The Ministry of Social Transformation and Human Resource Development in Antigua is responsible for oversight of the local government department. The Barbuda Council reports to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs. Elections for the 11 Barbuda councillors are held every two years for half the council (five and six alternately) for a four-year term; following the 2017 election 45.5% (5/11)-were women. In 2016, local government expenditure (Barbuda Council) accounted for 2% of total government expenditure. Barbuda Council is empowered to make by-laws, collect taxes and deliver goods and services, as well as to administer and regulate agriculture, forestry, public health, public utilities and roads for the island.

1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 3. STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Antigua and Barbuda is a federal 3.1 Local government within the state constitutional monarchy with a bicameral There are no district or parish councils in parliamentary democracy.1.1 The head of Antigua. On Barbuda there is one local government is the prime minister, who government body, the Barbuda Council. KEY FACTS advises the governor-general on the appointment of ministers. Parliament

comprises a house of representatives and 3.2 Ministerial oversight POPULATION (2017 estimate): 94,731 a senate. The 17 members of the house of On the island of Antigua the Ministry representatives are elected by universal of Social Transformation and Human

suffrage for a term of up to five years. The Resource Development has oversight of AREA (UN 2006): 1.3c 442 sq km 17 members of the senate are appointed the local government department. The by the governor-general as follows: 11 ministry is providing technical support CAPITAL: St John’s on the advice of the prime minister, to the department in the form of a one of whom must be a resident of consultant dedicated to conducting a CURRENCY: Barbuda; four on the advice of the leader review of the existing local government East Caribbean dollar (XCD) of the opposition; one on the advice of system and making recommendations the Barbuda Council; and one at the for its future development. The HEAD OF STATE: discretion of the governor-general. The department has its own budget which HM Queen Elizabeth II number of women in Parliment following mainly covers administrative costs, the 2018 election was not known, while community development projects GOVERNOR-GENERAL: however following the 2014 national are funded through alliances with the Sir Rodney Williams election, 11.1% (2/18) of the members of private sector and NGOs. The Ministry of

the house of representatives and 29.4% Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Barbuda HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: 1.3d Prime Minister Gaston Browne (5/17) of the senate were women. Affairs has an oversight role for the Barbuda Council1.3e. FORM OF GOVERNMENT: constitutional monarchy 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT 3.3 Council types PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: The Barbuda Council was established in 2.1 Constitutional provisions bicameral There is no constitutional provision for 1976 by the Barbuda Local Government local government; however, the Barbuda Act and is an 11-member body consisting STATE STRUCTURE: unitary Council is enshrined in the constitution of nine directly elected and two ex- in Chapter 123.1.2a officio members (the member of LANGUAGES: English (official), Antiguan parliament for Barbuda and a senate Creole (recognised) representative) who serve four-year 2.2 Main legislative texts terms. Elections are held every two years NATIONAL ELECTIONS: There is presently no local government in March, with half the seats becoming last: March 2018, turnout: 90%; next: 2022 legislation on Antigua; however, the vacant at alternate polls. The council is WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2014): Barbuda Local Government Act 19761.2b empowered to make by-laws to govern representatives 11.1%; senators 29.4% governs the Barbuda Council. the affairs of the island. The Barbuda Council has five committees: Finance; LOCAL ELECTIONS: Barbuda last: March Works and General Purposes; Health, 2017, turnout: 45%; next: 2019 2.3 Proposed legislative changes Social Welfare and Disaster; Tourism, No known legislative changes proposed. Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs; and WOMEN COUNCILLORS - BARBUDA: Agriculture, Land, Forestry, Fisheries, 45.5% (2017) Coastal/Marine Protection. The council 2.4 National urban policy also has a board of education and LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE There is no national urban policy and training. as a percentage of total government there is no formal land use policy for the expenditure 2016/17: city of St John’s1.2c. 2.0%

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Table 1.1a Distribution of councils and population 9. FINANCE, STAFFING AND RESOURCES

Population Population 9.1 Local government expenditure Parish/dependency Districts 2011 Census 2017 estimate % rural In 2017, local government expenditure is budgeted to be 2.0% of total St John’s (city) 95 21,643 na 0.0 government expenditure, up slighting St John’s (rural) 74 29,486 na 100.0 from 1.9% in 2016 but down from 2.3 in 2015, and 2.6% in 2014. See table 1.2b. St George 22 7,976 na 100.0 9.2 Locally raised revenue St Peter 17 5,317 na 100.0 The local government department in St Philip 19 3,322 na 100.0 Antigua has no authority to levy taxes. The Barbuda Council is empowered by St Paul 28 8,116 na 100.0 the Barbuda Local Government Act 1976, Chapter 44, Section 19, sub-section xviii St Mary 20 7,331 na 100.0 to collect taxes to deliver goods and services. The council proposes by-laws Barbuda 5 1,625 na 100.0 to implement all new taxes, which are TOTAL 280 84,836 94,731 74.3 tabled in parliament for approval.

1.3a 1.3b Source: Government of Antigua and Barbuda, 2011 Census page 181 and CIA factbook 9.3 Transfers 4. ELECTIONS 5.2 Implementation The Barbuda Council receives an annual grant to supplement its locally raised 4.1 Recent local elections No information available. revenue and any deficit is covered The last local elections were held for the by a transfer of funds from national Barbuda Council in January 20171.4. Turnout 5.3 ICT use in citizen engagement government. was 45.5%. The next election is scheduled in 2019. The previous election was held in There is currently no e-government March 2015 and the turnout was 82%. strategy. 9.4 Loans No information is available

4.2 Voting system 6. ORGANISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9.5 Local authority staff Elections are undertaken by single non- There are no local government associations. The national government of Antigua transferable vote and universal suffrage and Barbuda covers all administrative among the citizens of Barbuda over the 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS costs and salaries for the Antigua age of 18. The local government department local government department, which in Antigua operates as a regular in 2015/16 came to XC$525,497. The 4.3 Elected representatives government department within the Barbuda Council pays its secretary and No information available. Ministry of Social Transformation and all public officers from local tax revenue. Human Resource Development and not as a local government structure, since 10. DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE 4.4 Women’s representation there is no legislation to support such a DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY In the last Barbuda Council election, structure. The Barbuda Council reports 10.1 Overview of local government four of the six elected councillors were to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, service delivery responsibility female, bringing the total on the council Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs. District officers of the local government to five out of 11, or 45.5%. The current department in Antigua are assigned council chair is female. See table 1.1b responsibilities for constituencies and 8. MONITORING SYSTEMS are required to identify instances of In Barbuda, the council prepares annual need in each area and report to the 5. SYSTEMS FOR estimates of revenue and expenditure relevant authorities for action. The COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT which are submitted to the Minister of local government department is also 5.1 Legal requirement Finance for the approval of parliament. responsible for working with community No information available. groups to establish street names Table 1.1b Women councillors & chairs following the last 3 Barbuda Council elections and signage and will be promoting cooperatives as a means of bringing Election 2013 2015 2017 people together to empower themselves economically. The Barbuda Council Councillors # % # % # % is empowered under the Barbuda Female councillors na na 1 9.1 5 45.5 Local Government Act to administer agriculture, forestry, public health, Male councillors na na 10 90.9 11 54.5 medical and sanitary facilities and services, as well as to administer and Total councillors 11 100.0 11 100.0 11 100.0 regulate the provision of electricity and water services and other public utilities Chairpersons # % # % # % for the island. Female chairs 0 0 0 0 1 100

Male chairs 1 100.0 1 100.0 0 0

Total chair 1 100.0 1 100.0 1 100.0

Source: Barbuda Council correspondence with CLGF

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1.3e Barbuda Council www.barbudaful. Table 1.2b Local government expenditure as a net/our-community/politics/local- percentage of total government expenditure 2014–2017 government.html 1.4 Antigua and Barbuda Election 2014 2015 2016 2017 in XC$m in XC$m in XC$m in XC$m Commission www.abec.gov.ag/ actual actual approved budgeted election-cycle/barbuda-council.php 1.5 No reference for this section Total government expenditure 717.1 986.4 1,209.5 1,151.1 1.6 No reference for this section Total local government expenditure 18.6 23.1 23.1 23.3 1.7 No reference for this section 1.8 No reference for this section Local government expenditure as a 2.6% 2.3% 1.9% 2.0% percentage of total government expenditure 1.9 Based on the figure of $23.342,875 Barbuda council expenditure Source: Compiled by CLGF from Government of Antigua and Barbuda budget statements1.9 2017 and XC$769m national expenditure www.ab.gov.ag/pdf/ budget/2017_Barbuda_Council.pdf 10.2 ICT use in service delivery 1.2b The Barbuda Local Government 2017 National Budget Summary, Act 1976 http://laws.gov.ag/acts/ In 2016, the Barbuda council and the page 69 www.ab.gov.ag/pdf/ chapters/cap-44.pdf Barbuda treasury were integrated onto budget_speech_2016.pdf the e-Government Platform1.10a by the 1.2c Antigua and Barbuda: National 1.10a Ministry of Information extends Ministry of Information, linking it directly Urban Profile 2012 https://unhabitat. e-Government Platform to with the Ministry of Finance. org/books/antigua-and-barbuda- Barbuda www.ab.gov.ag/media_ national-urban-sector-profile page.php?page=100 1.3a Antigua and Barbuda Census 2011 10.3 The role of local government 1.10b Workforce Development Strategy http://caribbean.cepal.org/ in achieving the UN Sustainable for Antigua and Barbuda’s Priority content/2011-population-and- Development Goals (SDGs) Energy Sectors housing-census-antigua-and- The Environment Department within www.ctc-n.org/technical- barbuda Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of assistance/projects/workforce- Health and the Environment is working 1.3b Antigua and Barbuda profile 2018: development-strategy-antigua- to identify relevant energy efficient and www.cia.gov/library/publications/ and-barbuda-s-priority-energy resources/the-world-factbook/ renewable energy technologies and the 1.11a UN statistics surface area http:// geos/ac.html development of a workforce strategy to unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/ mobilize local labour for implementation 1.3c Ministry of Social Transformation products/dyb/dyb2006/Table03.pdf projects.1.10b and Human Resource 1.11b Commonwealth Local Government Development www.ab.gov.ag/ Knowledge Hub www.clgf.org.uk/ detail_page.php?page=21 REFERENCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES resource-centre/knowledge-hub 1.3d Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, 1.1. Government of Antigua and 1.11c UNDP HDR Antigua and Barbuda Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs Barbuda website www.ab.gov.ag country profile http://hdr.undp.org/ www.ab.gov.ag/detail_page. 1.2a. Constitution of Antigua and en/countries/profiles/ATG Barbuda http://pdba.georgetown. php?page=17 edu/constitutions/antigua/antigua- barbuda.html

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Annex 1a Summary of service provision in different spheres of government in Antigua and Barbuda

Delivering authority

Services National government Barbuda Council Remarks GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Police n Fire protection n Civil protection n Criminal justice n Civil status register n Statistical office n Electoral register n EDUCATION Pre-school (kindergarten and nursery) n Primary n Secondary n Vocational and technical n Higher education n Adult education n SOCIAL WELFARE Family welfare services n Welfare homes n Social security n PUBLIC HEALTH n n Primary care Barbuda Council has sole Hospitals n responsibility on the island, Health protection n n national government on Antigua HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING Housing n Town planning n Regional planning n TRANSPORT Roads n n Transport n Urban roads n n Barbuda Council has sole responsibility on the island, Urban rail n national government on Antigua Ports n Airports n ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SANITATION Water and sanitation n n Refuse collection and disposal n Cemeteries and crematoria n Barbuda Council has sole responsibility on the island, Slaughterhouses n national government on Antigua Environmental protection n Consumer protection n CULTURE, LEISURE AND SPORTS Theatre and concerts n Museums and libraries n Parks and open spaces n Sports and leisure n Religious facilities n UTLITITES Gas services n Barbuda Council has sole District heating n responsibility on the island, Water supply n national government on Antigua Electricity n n ECONOMIC Agriculture, forests and fisheries n n Economic promotion n Barbuda Council has sole responsibility on the island, Trade and industry n national government on Antigua Tourism n

n sole responsibility service n joint responsibility service n discretionary service

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