By Latrishka Thomas
The representative for Barbuda, MP Trevor Walker remains determined to reform Antigua and Barbuda’s Oath of Allegiance, stating that he plans to reintroduce the constitutional amendment in the new year despite, previous setbacks.
At this time, the country’s oath requires allegiance to King Charles and his heirs and successors, a practice Walker has sought to change.
In 2022, he presented a private member’s Bill before the Parliament to amend the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda.
The effort, however, met resistance. The government’s side which holds the majority in the Lower House, voted against the proposed changes, effectively blocking the attempt at reform.
“It went through the Parliament, through the debate, through everything,” Walker explained in a recent interview. “When the time came for it to be voted on, the government side rejected it and got the majority of the vote to do that.”
Despite this setback, he remained hopeful about reintroducing the measure in the coming year.
Walker shared his strategy for gaining support in his next attempt. “The only thing that we can do is just to do some lobbying and hope that at least one or two persons from the other side understands the importance of us taking this step,” he said.
He also revealed plans for additional consultations, including working with the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association to raise awareness.
The original Bill, drafted by Antiguans and Barbudans for Constitution Reform and Education (ABCRE), followed similar successful reforms in other British Commonwealth nations.
Jamaica, for instance, had already modified its Oath of Allegiance to prioritise commitment to its people rather than to the British Monarchy.
For the Bill to succeed in its next iteration, it would need to secure a two-thirds majority.
