House of Representatives to meet on Thursday -Thirteen Bills on Order Paper

The House of Representatives will meet on Thursday of this week to debate Thirteen Bills on the Order Paper down for second and third readings.

The Payment System and Services Bill, the Cannabis (Amendment) Bill, Civil Registration Vital Statistics (Amendment) Bill, the Litter Control and Prevention (Amendment) Bill, the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Bill and the Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill will receive their First Readings.

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Hon. Gaston Browne will move the First and Second Readings of the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) Bill, 2025, which will ratify Antigua and Barbuda Share Subscription Agreement entered with the bank to secure the membership of the country into CAF as a Shareholder Member Country.

The Hon. Prime Minister will also move the Second and Third Readings of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Bill, the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information Bill, and the Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill.

Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, the Hon. Sir Steadroy Benjamin will move the Second and Third Readings of the Fire and Rescue Service Bill which will see the Fire Department renamed as the Fire and Rescue Service (replacing the Fire Brigades Act). 

In addition, the new Act once passed through the House will result in the Police Act and the accompanying regulations not being applicable to the Fire and Rescue Service.

In addition to preventing and controlling the outbreak of fire, one of the new objectives of the Fire and Rescue Service is to educate the public on preventative measures to safeguard life and property.  The new construct will also see the Fire and Rescue Service being the lead agency in Antigua and Barbuda responsible for search and rescue operations in collaboration with other organizations and agencies.  

Under the new Act, the command of the Fire and Rescue Service will be under the Chief Fire Officer who will be directly involved with supervising the daily operations of the Fire and Rescue Service.

A Fire Service Board will also be established, which will be responsible for appointing persons to the Service, promoting officers of higher ranks with the Service and approving transfers.  It will also be responsible for disciplining fire officers and approving the dismissal of any officer from the Service.  Under the Act, a Fire and rescue Service Welfare Association will also be established to address matters that affect the general welfare and efficiency of the subordinate fire officers.

The  Attorney General will also move the Second and Third Readings of the Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services (ABFS) Bill which establish a legislative framework for the establishment of the Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services to assist law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.  It will see the appointment and functions of the Forensic Director and Deputy Director, as well as the duties and obligations of staff and protection from personal liability.

The Hon. Attorney General will also table the Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill, The Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda (Incorporation) Act, and the Architects (Professions) (Amendment) Bill.

Other Bills to be tabled and debated include the Cultural Heritage (Protection) Bill and the Consumer Protection Bill to be presented by National Parks Minister the Hon. E. P. Chet Greene; and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Leeward Island (Incorporation) Bill to be tabled by Minister responsible for Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph. (Ends)