A new bill to reduce the presence of unsupervised children in public spaces has been successfully passed in the Lower House of Representatives.

The Child Justice Amendment Bill introduces stricter regulations for minors in public areas and penalizes parents who do not adequately supervise their children.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne emphasized that young people commit many acts of violence in Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean, and he described crime and violence as a public health crisis in the region.

The legislation has also been updated to include penalties for nightclub, bar, and event organizers who allow minors to remain on the premises between 10 pm and 6 am.

The law defines the authority of a police officer when dealing with minors under 18 who are loitering.

Parents can be fined amounts of EC$2,000.00, $3,000.00, and $5,000.00 and may face a six-month imprisonment upon summary conviction for their children’s loitering offense.

“A person who contravenes section 1 commits an offense and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5k,” PM Browne said.

Leader of the United Progressive Party Jamale Pringle said that, while not disagreeing with the amendments, the matter of the age of consent should be discussed further.

The bill now has to go to the Upper House for debate.