Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda
Incumbent Gaston Browne since 13 June 2014
Style	The Right Honourable His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Cabinet, National Security Council
Appointer	Governor-General Prime minister must have support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives
Term length	Five years renewable
Formation	1 November 1981
First holder	Vere Bird
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Salary	150,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars/US$ 55,555 annually
Website	https://opm.gov.ag/

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is the main leader of the government in Antigua and Barbuda. This important person is chosen by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister leads the Cabinet, which is a group of top government officials.

They also pick the other ministers who help run the country. The Prime Minister has a lot of power to make decisions for the country, as explained in the Constitution. To be Prime Minister, a person must be an elected member of the House of Representatives and have the support of most of its members.

Over time, the power of the Prime Minister has changed. While the Governor-General is the official head of state, the Prime Minister is always the head of the government. They act much like a president in many other countries. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet suggest new laws and plans for the country. These plans often become official laws or rules.

The idea of this leadership role started way back in 1872. Back then, it was called the colonial president. This person worked under the island's governor. Later, the role changed to administrator, chief minister, and then premier. Each new role gave the leader more power as the islands moved closer to becoming independent.

Four people have served as Prime Minister since the country gained full independence. The first was Vere Bird, who started on November 1, 1981. Vere Bird also served the longest, for 12 years. His son, Lester, served the shortest time, for ten years. Gaston Browne became Prime Minister on June 13, 2014, after Baldwin Spencer. This happened after the 2014 general election.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

The rules for choosing a Prime Minister are in the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda. The Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives. They must also be the leader of the political party that has the most support in the House.

If no party has a clear leader, or if no party has the support of most members, the Governor-General can choose someone. They will pick the person who seems most likely to get the support of the majority. This person must also be willing to take on the role of Prime Minister.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is in Botanical Gardens. It is not the official home. The first Prime Minister, V.C. Bird, used Tomlinson House as his home. Money meant for a new official home was used to build the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium instead.

If a Prime Minister needs to be chosen when Parliament is not meeting, a person who was a member of the House of Representatives just before Parliament stopped meeting can be chosen.

What an Acting Prime Minister Does

Sometimes, the Prime Minister might be away from Antigua and Barbuda. Or they might be unable to do their job because of illness. In these cases, the Governor-General can ask another member of the Cabinet to act as Prime Minister. This person will do the Prime Minister's duties until the Governor-General says they no longer need to.

Prime Minister's Responsibilities

The Prime Minister gives advice to the Governor-General about who should be in the Cabinet. Only the Prime Minister can call a meeting of the Cabinet. If the Prime Minister is not there, another minister they choose can call the meeting.

If the House of Representatives votes that they no longer trust the Prime Minister, this is called a "vote of no confidence." If this vote passes, the Governor-General must remove the Prime Minister from office or end Parliament.

List of Prime Ministers

Here is a timeline showing how long each Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda lived and served. They are listed in the order they took office. Vere Bird is shown by the date of his first time as Prime Minister.

See also

In Spanish: Primer ministro de Antigua y Barbuda para niños

• Politics of Antigua and Barbuda
• Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation
• Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda