Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin

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Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Steadroy Benjamin, says the government intends to tighten traffic laws to immediately suspend the licences of motorists involved in fatal crashes caused by reckless driving.

Speaking during debate on the Fatal Accident Bill 2026 in Parliament on Tuesday, Benjamin argued that current laws are outdated and fail to adequately address the pain suffered by families who lose loved ones in traffic accidents.

The Bill was passed in the Lower House on Tuesday.

He described situations where victims have been left with catastrophic injuries, while drivers allegedly responsible continue driving freely because charges have not yet been laid.

“That cannot be right,” the Attorney General declared, adding that where it is clear an accident was caused by reckless, dangerous or careless driving, authorities should have the power to suspend a driver’s licence on the spot.

Benjamin also called for a significant increase in the proposed $5,000 bereavement award contained in the bill, saying the amount does not reflect the profound grief families endure following the loss of a loved one.

He pointed to recent fatal crashes in Antigua and Barbuda, including incidents where victims’ bodies suffered extensive trauma, and questioned how families, particularly young children, could be expected to cope with such losses with only a modest compensation payment.

The Fatal Accident Bill 2026 seeks to replace legislation that has remained largely unchanged since 1924. According to Benjamin, the new legislation modernizes the law by expanding who can bring claims and ensuring dependants are better protected after the death of a family member.

The Attorney General also expressed concern over speeding on newly improved roads, particularly along All Saints Road, and said further legal reforms are being considered to curb reckless driving and improve road safety.

Meanwhile Minister of Social and Urban Transformation and Member of Parliament for St. Peter, Rawdon Turner, described the legislation as long overdue and warning that it will usher in a new era of accountability for reckless drivers, employers and others whose negligence results in death.

Minister of Social and Urban Transformation and MP for St. Peter Rawdon Turner

“This bill is long in coming,” Turner told Parliament. “We can at least have some accountability to families who would have lost persons as a result of careless driving.”

While supporting the legislation, Turner used the opportunity to call for stronger measures to combat drunk driving. He urged authorities to introduce mandatory breathalyzer testing at the scene of serious traffic accidents, arguing that alcohol-related crashes continue to claim lives unnecessarily.

Recalling a past accident involving members of his own family, Turner said it was obvious the driver responsible had been drinking, yet no alcohol test was administered.

“I think that’s something that’s lacking in our force and in our laws,” he said. “We need to ensure that drunk driving does not continue to cause accidents and deaths in this country.”

The minister also stressed that the Fatal Accidents Bill extends far beyond road traffic collisions. He noted that the legislation could have significant implications for construction sites, workplaces and other environments where negligence leads to fatal injuries.

As a contractor himself, Turner said the bill serves as a warning to employers and site operators to ensure strict safety standards are followed.

“If I don’t ensure that my construction site is safe and we’re following all the safety rules, I am going to become liable if a person is injured on my construction site,” he said.

Turner further highlighted the common practice of transporting workers on the backs of trucks, describing it as a dangerous habit that should be discontinued. Under the new legal framework, he warned, vehicle owners could face substantial liability if a worker falls and dies while being transported in such a manner.

The St. Peter MP also pointed to provisions allowing courts to award damages beyond the bill’s bereavement payment. He said judges would now have the discretion to compensate surviving family members for financial losses caused by the death of a loved one.

Using the example of a father supporting children at university, Turner said the legislation could help ensure families are not left destitute after losing their primary breadwinner.

“The court now has the opportunity to ensure that the education is not disrupted because that person is not here with us today,” he said.

The Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 seeks to modernize Antigua and Barbuda’s laws governing compensation for wrongful deaths, allowing relatives and dependents greater access to damages where a death results from another person’s negligence or wrongful act.