Prime Minister Gaston Browne has launched a blistering response to regional associations representing female judges, accusing members of the judiciary of protecting their independence while failing to address public concerns about lenient sentences for repeat offenders and people convicted of serious crimes.

“I speak on behalf of the people. I said what I said and I stand by it,” Browne declared, insisting that judicial independence does not place judges or their decisions beyond public scrutiny.

His response follows a joint statement from the Caribbean Association of Women Judges, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Association of Women Judges, the Eastern Caribbean Association of Women Judges, the Guyana Association of Women Judges and the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Women Judges.

The organisations criticised comments Browne made on August 10 about what he described as inadequate sentences imposed for violent crimes by an unnamed judge.

They argued that a statement by the head of the executive suggesting that a judge should leave the country or face deportation and designation as persona non grata for failing to impose sufficiently severe sentences could not be dismissed as ordinary criticism of sentencing policy.

The associations maintained that judges must decide cases according to the Constitution, the law, the evidence presented, applicable sentencing guidelines and binding decisions from higher courts.

They said judicial independence remains essential to constitutional democracy and is not an obstacle to public safety but one of the safeguards of a free and secure society.

Browne, however, rejected what he described as the associations’ “singular concern” with judicial independence, arguing that the principle does not make judges unaccountable to the people they serve.

“Give proportional sentences instead of your inadequate, weak-kneed sentences that have resulted in an increase in the repeat-offender population,” the Prime Minister said.

He argued that repeat offenders are destabilising Caribbean communities, terrorising citizens and undermining regional development.

“Your so-called independence does not give you the right to abuse your sentencing discretion in favour of criminals who commit heinous crimes,” Browne said. “It does not give you the right to act contrary to the wishes of the Parliament to see more stringent sentencing.”

According to Browne, the fundamental concern is not an attempt to influence any case before the courts but what he considers a broader failure within the criminal justice system to respond effectively to firearm offences, sexual crimes and organised drug trafficking.

“What I am challenging is a broken judicial system that needs urgent realignment to become relevant in addressing the prevailing challenges of crime and violence involving repeat offenders,” he said.

The Prime Minister maintained that he respects the constitutional separation of powers but believes judges must recognise Parliament’s demand and what he described as the public’s desire, for tougher and more proportionate sentences.

He accused the judiciary of “moving in the opposite direction” from Parliament by imposing what he called liberal and lenient sentences.

Browne further claimed that weak sentencing was undermining public safety, alleging that the judicial associations had “conveniently failed” to address that concern while responding forcefully to perceived threats against judicial independence.

He challenged the female judges to consider how they would respond if a five-year-old daughter were raped by a 50-year-old man, contracted herpes and the offender received a three-year sentence following a guilty plea.

He also questioned how they would feel if someone committed an aggravated robbery against them with a firearm and received an 18-month prison sentence before returning to society and committing similar offences.

Browne cited repeat offenders involved in drug and firearm crimes who, he claimed, repeatedly receive sentences ranging from approximately 18 months to two years.

“They need longer sentences to disrupt the sustainability of their ongoing narco business,” he said.

The Prime Minister described the associations’ condemnation of his remarks as “moronic” and warned that he would continue to speak publicly until the judiciary addresses concerns surrounding sentences imposed on hardened criminals.

“Until such time as you address public concerns about your perverse sentencing against hardened criminals, you will continue to hear from me on behalf of the people,” he said.

Browne also issued a warning to any judicial officers who may be involved in corruption, saying that appropriate action would be pursued if credible evidence emerged.

“And to the corrupt ones among you—take my threat seriously,” he said, adding that action would be taken where credible evidence of misconduct or breaches of integrity is uncovered.

He concluded by urging judges to leave what he described as their “secured ivory towers,” show greater empathy for victims and acknowledge that the regional justice system requires urgent reform.

“The safety of our respective countries and our peoples is paramount and takes priority over your so-called independence,” Browne declared.

The latest exchange represents a further escalation in the dispute between the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister and members of the regional judiciary over the boundaries of legitimate public criticism, the separation of powers and the role sentencing plays in combating violent crime.

Heads of judiciaries from across the Caribbean had previously issued a statement challenging Browne’s August 10 remarks. While acknowledging that judicial independence is essential to democratic government, Browne maintained that neither judges nor the administration of justice should be shielded from reasoned public criticism, particularly when sentencing outcomes raise recurring concerns about public safety and confidence in the justice system.