Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda

Representative of the monarch of Antigua and Barbuda

Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda

Emblem

Flag of the governor-general

Incumbent
Rodney Williams

since 14 August 2014

Viceroy
Style| His Excellency
Abbreviation| GG
Residence| Government House
Appointer| Monarch of Antigua and Barbuda
on the advice of the prime minister
Term length| At His Majesty's pleasure
Precursor| Governor of Antigua
Formation| 1 November 1981
First holder| Sir Wilfred Jacobs
Deputy| Deputy Governor-General
Salary| 108,630 XCD annually[1]
Website| https://gg.gov.ag/

Politics of Antigua and Barbuda

Executive

* Monarch

Charles III
* Governor-General

Sir Rodney Williams
* Prime Minister

Gaston Browne
* Cabinet

Legislative

* Parliament

Senate

President
House of Representatives

Speaker
Leader of the Opposition

Judicial

* Magistrates' Courts
* Supreme Court

High Court
Court of Appeal

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Elections

* Recent elections

* General: 2014
* 2018
* 2023

* Political parties

Administrative divisions

* Parishes and dependencies

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs

Minister: E.P. Chet Greene

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Antigua and Barbuda

* * *

* Passports
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Barbuda

* Barbuda Council

Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda is the representative of the monarch of Antigua and Barbuda, currently Charles III. The governor-general is nominated by the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch. The governor-general exercises the powers of the monarch, and thus appoints ministers, senators, judges, and ambassadors; gives royal assent to legislation; and issues writs for election. The governor-general also exercises the powers of the commander-in-chief of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.[2] The governor-general serves at His Majesty's pleasure, although in practice is usually removed following the election of a new party into power.[3]

In addition to his or her legal responsibilities, the governor-general also has many community and ceremonial duties including delivering the speech from the throne at the state opening of Parliament, accepting letters of credence from foreign ambassadors, distributing various honours and decorations, and representing the state at official events. In general, the governor-general observes the conventions of the Westminster system and responsible government, maintaining political neutrality, and has to always act only on the advice of the prime minister. The governor-general is supported by a staff headed by the official secretary to the governor-general.

The position was directly preceded by the governor of Antigua, established in 1632. The position has gone under many reforms and name changes throughout the years, primarily due to what is now Antigua and Barbuda being merged into various federations and colonies. The title of governor has at various times been renamed to lieutenant governor or administrator. At its territorial peak the governor of Antigua had jurisdiction over the British Leeward Islands.

The position of governor-general was established when Antigua and Barbuda gained independence on 1 November 1981. Since independence, four people have served as governor-general–all from Antigua, and three of them being men. Most governors-general have been either former politicians or distinguished experts in various academic fields. Due to the increasing desire of Antiguans and Barbudans to distance themselves from the colonial past, the governor-general has been viewed as a de facto head of state[4][5] culturally, and many have proposed that the position of governor-general replace the monarchy in the event that a republican system be adopted.

## History

[edit]

Prior to the establishment of the position of governor-general under the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda was administered by the Governor of Antigua, a position first established in 1632.[6] In 1671, the position was replaced by a lieutenant governor with the establishment of the British Leeward Islands.[7] From 1747 until 1816, the Leeward governor directly administered the archipelago.[8] The position of Governor of Antigua was revived in 1816, and in 1833 the Governor of Antigua became the Governor of the Leeward Islands ex officio.[7] The positions were merged in 1872, and in 1936, the position of administrator replaced the role.[9] Upon the establishment of the Associated State of Antigua in 1967, the governorship was revived.[10]

Since the position's establishment, the prime minister has nominated the governor-general shortly after their assumption of office. A notable exception was Louise Lake-Tack, who was appointed three years after Baldwin Spencer assumed the premiership. Lake-Tack was later removed from office by the Gaston Browne administration, after the government requested her removal due to her refusing to work with the administration. Since then, the governor-general has rarely exercised his or her powers without the advice of the government.[3]

## Appointment

[edit]

Any citizen of Antigua and Barbuda may be appointed as governor-general by the monarch. There is no set term for the governor-general, and the governor-general serves at His Majesty's pleasure, meaning the monarch holds the right to dismiss the governor-general at any time. If there is a vacancy in the position, the monarch is the only person who may fill that vacancy.[11] In 2007, there was a vacancy in the position after the term of Sir James Carlisle ended, and in 2014, the government successfully appealed to the monarch that Louise Lake-Tack be removed from office due to her being "uncooperative".[12]

Rodney Williams swearing in Dean Jonas as ambassador-at-large

## Constitutional role

[edit]

The governor-general has various responsibilities under the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda. The governor-general exercises executive authority on behalf of the monarch, whom all executive powers are vested in.[13]

### Role in parliament

[edit]

The governor-general appoints all members of the Senate. Ten appointments require the advice of the prime minister, one additional appointment must be a Barbuda resident on the advice of the prime minister, one requires the advice of the Barbuda Council, four require the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one may be appointed under his or her discretion. The governor-general may also declare a seat vacant with the advice of the person that's advice was required to appoint them, or if the Barbuda resident senator ceases to be a resident of Barbuda.[14]

All bills passed by Parliament must receive royal assent from the governor-general on behalf of the monarch. The governor-general may only refuse to assent if he or she deems the bill unconstitutional. The governor-general may prorogue Parliament by proclamation. After a consultation with the prime minister, the governor-general may dissolve Parliament. The governor-general may also dissolve Parliament if a vote of no-confidence passes and the prime minister does not resign after seven days or request a dissolution of Parliament. If Parliament is dissolved, the governor-general may prorogue the previous Parliament with the advice of the prime minister in an emergency. The governor-general may choose the date of a general election within three months after a dissolution of Parliament. As soon as possible after a general election, the governor-general must appoint the seventeen senators.[15]

The governor-general chooses the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies by an order. However, at least one these constituencies must be located within Barbuda. The governor-general also appoints various members of the Constituencies Boundaries Commission with the advice of the prime minister and leader of the opposition. The governor-general, through a notice in the Gazette, may also appoint the Supervisor of Elections.[16]

### Role in the executive

[edit]

The governor-general may appoint the prime minister, who must be a member of parliament with the confidence of the majority of members of the House of Representatives, in usual circumstances the leader of the majority party. All other ministers must also be appointed by the governor-general with the prime minister's advice. Ministries may be created by acts of Parliament, or, if delegated, by the governor-general under the prime minister's advice. The governor-general may assign ministers a portfolio. The governor-general may also appoint parliamentary secretaries, attorneys-general, and certain members of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.[17]

The governor-general may grant pardons, respites, or order less severe punishments to criminals. The governor-general also must appoint the director of public prosecutions under the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, in addition to various other government commissioners.[18]

## List of governors-general

[edit]

The following is a list of people who have served as governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda since independence in 1981.

Denotes acting governors-general

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death) | Term of office  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Time in office
1  |  | Sir Wilfred Jacobs
(1919–1995) | 1 November
1981  | 10 June
1993  | 11 years, 221 days  |
Elizabeth II

(1981–2022)
2  |  | Sir James Carlisle
(b. 1937) | 10 June
1993  | 30 June
2007  | 14 years, 20 days
Vacant (30 June – 17 July 2007)
3  |  | Dame Louise Lake-Tack
(b. 1944) | 17 July
2007  | 14 August
2014  | 7 years, 28 days
4  |  | Sir Rodney Williams
(b. 1947) | 14 August
2014  | Incumbent | 10 years, 267 days  |

Charles III

(2022–present)

## See also

[edit]

* Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
* List of colonial governors and administrators of Antigua

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. "CHAPTER 195 - THE GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S EMOLUMENTS AND PENSION ACT" (PDF). laws.gov.ag.
2. ^ Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations, SAGE Publications, 2013, p. 32, ISBN 9781452299372
3. ^ a b Maverick.Derrick (30 October 2017). "Government insists former GG demanding too much money". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
4. ^ "Governor-General". Commonwealth of Nations. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
5. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda Government".
6. ^ Lanaghan. Antigua and the Antiguans. p. 12.
7. ^ a b Lanaghan. Antigua and the Antiguans. pp. 94–97.
8. ^ Lanaghan. Antigua and the Antiguans. pp. 84–86.
9. ^ "Digital Library of the Caribbean". dloc.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
10. ^ "Antigua Constitution Order 1967" (PDF).
11. ^ Chapter III, Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order (PDF). 1981.
12. ^ Maverick.Derrick (30 October 2017). "Government insists former GG demanding too much money". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
13. ^ Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order (PDF). 1981.
14. ^ The Senate, Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order (PDF). 1981.
15. ^ The House of Representatives, Antigua and Barbuda Constituton Order (PDF). 1981.
16. ^ Delimitations of Constituencies, Antigua and Barbuda Constituton Order (PDF). 1981.
17. ^ Chapter V, Antigua and Barbuda Constituton Order (PDF). 1981.
18. ^ Chapter V & VI, Antigua and Barbuda Constituton Order (PDF). 1981.

## External links

[edit]

* Georgetown University
* http://www.rulers.org/rula2.html#antigua_and_barbuda
* Archived Official Website[usurped]

* v
* t
* e

Antigua and Barbuda articles

History|

* Timeline
* Political
* Pre-Columbian
* Early colonisation (1493–1687)
* Height of slavery (1688–1832)
* Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat
* Kingdom of Antigua plot
* Post-emancipation (1833–1870)
* Governors
* British Leeward Islands
* Presidency of Antigua (1871–1958)
* Territory of Antigua (1958–1962)
* Colony of Antigua (1962–1967)
* Associated State of Antigua
* Independence
* Post-independence (1981–1994)
* Late Bird era (1994–2004)
* Post-Bird era (2004–2014)
* Since 2014

Geography|

* Antigua
* Barbuda
* Beaches
* Birds
* Cities
* Capitals
* Population
* Geology
* Islands
* Mammals
* Mountains and hills
* Barbuda Highlands
* Shekerley
* National Cultural Heritage
* Parishes and dependencies
* Reptiles and amphibians
* Streams
* World Heritage Sites

Politics|

* Attorney general
* Barbudan independence
* Cabinet
* Constitution
* Elections
* Federalism
* Flag
* Foreign relations
* Government
* Human rights
* Intelligence
* Judiciary
* High Court
* Law
* Leader of the Opposition
* Local government
* Military
* Monarchy
* Governor-General
* Royal tours
* National security
* Parliament
* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Police
* Political parties
* Prime Minister
* list
* Deputy Prime Minister
* Republicanism

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Aviation
* Airlines
* Airports
* Communications
* Companies
* Central Bank
* East Caribbean dollar (currency)
* Human Development Index
* International rankings
* Newspapers
* Science and technology
* Trade unions
* Transport

Society|

* Census
* Crime
* Disability
* Discrimination
* Education
* Health
* Immigration
* Languages
* Creole
* People
* Religion
* Demographics
* Squatting
* Youth

Culture|

* Art
* Box hand
* Carnival
* Cuisine
* English
* Ethnicity
* Housecoat bands
* Music
* National symbols
* Notable Antiguans and Barbudans
* Public holidays

* Outline
* Index
* Bibliography

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Representatives of the monarch in Commonwealth realms and dominions

National|

* Counsellors of State (United Kingdom)
* Governors-general
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Australia
* Bahamas
* Belize
* Canada
* Grenada
* Jamaica
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Solomon Islands
* Tuvalu

Sub-national|

| Australian state governors|

* New South Wales
* Queensland
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Victoria
* Western Australia

|

Canadian lieutenant governors|

* Alberta
* British Columbia
* Manitoba
* New Brunswick
* Newfoundland and Labrador
* Nova Scotia
* Ontario
* Prince Edward Island
* Quebec
* Saskatchewan

Realm of New Zealand countries|

* Cook Islands
* Niue
* Tokelau

Crown Dependencies|

* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey

British Overseas Territories|

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Antarctic Territory
* British Indian Ocean Territory
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

Other viceregal representatives|

United Kingdom lieutenancy areas

Former|

* Barbados
* Ceylon
* Fiji
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guyana
* India
* Irish Free State
* Kenya
* Malawi
* Malta
* Mauritius
* Nigeria
* Pakistan
* Sierra Leone
* South Africa
* Tanganyika
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Uganda

* v
* t
* e

Governors-general (lists)

* Algeria
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Australia
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belgian Congo
* Belize
* Brazil
* Canada
* Ceylon
* Congo Free State
* Crete
* Dutch East Indies
* Eastern Rumelia
* Epirus
* Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
* Fiji
* Finland
* French Indochina
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Grenada
* Guyana
* India
* Portuguese India
* Irish Free State
* Jamaica
* Kenya
* Chōsen
* Italian Libya
* Macedonia
* Malta
* Mauritius
* Moscow
* Mozambique
* New Zealand
* Nigeria
* Northern Greece
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Sierra Leone
* Solomon Islands
* Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
* Sweden
* Taiwan
* Thrace
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Tuvalu
* Uganda

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[No.]: Number