Antiguan cabinet swears to oath without reference to British monarchy

Antigua and Barbuda’s new cabinet was sworn in this week, but ministers took the oath of allegiance to the federation rather than to the British monarchy for the first time in its history. The swearing in follows general elections held on April 30. The governing Labor Party (ABLP) won a fourth consecutive term, picking up all but two of the 17 seats

Late last year, parliamentarians approved an amendment to the constitution mandating local leaders to swear to the federation’s constitution and its laws.

Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin argued that the time had long passed for lawmakers and cabinet-level officials to still swear to King Charles, his heirs and successors. Rather, sworn allegiances must now be made to the state of Antigua and Barbuda, as the federation has been independent since 1981.

“Mr. Speaker, that is an affront, in my view, to what prevails today in Antigua and Barbuda. We have noted that the people of this nation are now so conscious of their independence that they believe we ought to be swearing allegiance to the state of Antigua and Barbuda and not to His Majesty the King in England. The time is right,” he argued as the bill was debated. “We will once and for all finally not be swearing to His Majesty in England, his heirs and successors in England. We are swearing the oath of allegiance to the state of Antigua and Barbuda, its constitution and its laws.”

The move by the federation is part of an effort across the Caribbean community to change symbols and other relics from the British colonial era to reflect the cultural and political realities of today, officials say.

Last year, Trinidad and Tobago ditched images linked to the ships of Christopher Columbus’s initial voyage and replaced the national coat of arms with the steelpan, the national instrument.

Grenada, Barbados and Jamaica have also localized their national oaths, with Barbados taking it a step further by opting to become a republic in late 2021. In doing so, it also dumped the British king as its head of state and installed a local as ceremonial president.

“I do, or solemnly affirm that I will faithfully bear true allegiance to the state of Antigua and Barbuda, its constitution and laws, so help me God,” reads the federation’s brand new oath.