Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Home
  2. What's New
  3. Who We Are
  4. What We Do
    1. Democracy
    2. Economics
    3. Education
    4. Gender
    5. Governance
    6. Health
    7. Human Rights
    8. Law
    9. Small States
    10. Sport
    11. Sustainability
    12. Youth
    13. Millennium Development Goals
    14. Funding
  5. News
    1. Events
    2. News Archive Search
    3. Picture Stories
  6. Media Room
    1. Press Archive Search
    2. Media Contacts
    3. Video
    4. Events
    5. In the Media
    6. Updates
    7. Downloads
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Image Library
    3. Libary & Archives
    4. Publications
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us
Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Report of the Antigua-Barbuda Review Team signals hope for a new beginning in the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda, says Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon

17 November 2000

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon announced today that he will visit St John's on Friday, 24 November 2000 to formally present to the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Lester B Bird, and the Chairman of the Barbuda Council, Mr Arthur Nibbs, the Report of a Review Team which he constituted to review the operation of arrangements between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Barbuda Council. 

In making the announcement Mr McKinnon said that "the significance of this Report is that, if its recommendations are implemented, it will bring to an end an era of discord between the islands of Antigua and Barbudaand will offer an opportunity for growth and prosperity." 

The Secretary-General added: "I sincerely hope that the Report will signal a new beginning in the relationship between Antigua and Barbudaand that the new partnership deal will benefit not only the development of Barbudabut also the twin island state as a whole. I am sure that all Antiguaand Barbuda's friends in the Commonwealth share that hope." 

Note to Editors

The proposal that there should be a Commonwealth Team to review the operation of the present arrangements between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Barbuda Council was first raised at the Antigua Constitutional Conference held at Lancaster House, London, in December 1980. The Secretary-General's decision to constitute such a team followed a request from Prime Minister Lester Bird, which was welcomed by the BarbudaCouncil. The Team consisting of Professor Denis Benn, Michael Manley Professor of Public Affairs and Public Policy at the University of the West Indies, and Mr Pierre Bienvenu, a leading Canadian lawyer, arrived in Antigua on 17 July 2000 to commence its work. It presented its report to the Secretary-General in October 2000.

Share this page
About this

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int