The House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda will convene at 9:30 a.m. at the Parliament Building today to deliberate on a number of important legislative matters.
Among the Bills scheduled for second and third readings are the Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025, presented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Gaston Browne, and the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by the Attorney General and Minister with responsibility for Public Safety, the Honourable Sir Steadroy Benjamin.
Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025
This Bill seeks to modernize Antigua and Barbuda’s tax recovery framework by strengthening the procedures governing the registration and sale of property in cases of unpaid tax liabilities.
Key provisions include:
- The introduction of a new definition of “property” and the clarification of the role of “designated officers” under the Act;
- The establishment of a statutory charge on real property owned by delinquent taxpayers to secure outstanding tax debts;
- New regulations for the public sale or auction of seized property, ensuring full transparency in the sale process, including advertisement, reserve price setting, and timelines for completion; and
- Authorization for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to execute transfers granting clear title to purchasers of properties sold under the Act.
The proposed amendments aim to improve the efficiency, fairness, and accountability of the tax debt recovery process while ensuring that the Government can effectively manage outstanding obligations in accordance with the Tax Administration and Procedure Act, 2018.
Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes amendments to Section 18 of the Electronic Crimes Act, 2013, specifically addressing the provisions governing Production Orders.
The amendments:
- Clarify the procedures for granting and serving production orders;
- Define the content, scope, and manner of providing information required under such orders;
- Strengthen the protection of privacy in the disclosure of information; and
- Update penalties for non-compliance with production orders.
According to the Attorney General, these reforms are essential to improving access to digital information during investigations, enhancing the Government’s capacity to address cyber-related offences, and ensuring compliance with lawful orders within a robust legal and privacy framework.
Other Bills scheduled for debate include amendments to the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information Act, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority Agreement Bill, and the Disabilities and Equal Opportunities (Amendment) Bill, among others.
These legislative measures reflect the Government’s ongoing commitment to modernizing the legal and regulatory environment in support of good governance, transparency, and national development.
