Who runs local government in Antigua and Barbuda?
Antigua has no local government: its parishes are administrative areas run by central government. Barbuda, the smaller island with about 1,600 people, has its own elected Barbuda Council, which is protected by the Constitution and can make by-laws and collect some taxes.
Antigua and Barbuda · Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy · Caribbean
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua's parishes (6) | No councils | Administrative areas only; a central local government department supports community development. |
| Barbuda Council | 9 directly elected members plus the island's MP and a senator; half the elected seats are filled every two years for four-year terms | By-laws, some taxes, agriculture, forestry, public health, utilities and roads on Barbuda (Barbuda Local Government Act 1976). |
Three questions about local power in Antigua and Barbuda
Are local leaders elected?
Barbuda councillors are elected; there are no elected local bodies on Antigua.
Which laws set up local government?
The Barbuda Council is in the Constitution and the 1976 Act. Barbuda's communal land tradition was put into law in 2007. Community groups on Antigua are informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Barbudan voters; the national ministry responsible for Barbuda affairs; Parliament, which approves new Barbuda taxes; and the courts.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no traditional authority, but Barbudans have a long tradition of holding land in common. The Barbuda Land Act 2007 recognised that land on Barbuda is owned in common by the people of Barbuda; later changes by the national government, after Hurricane Irma in 2017, have been challenged in court.
Community and neighbourhood power
Village and community development groups, church groups and sports clubs are active. On Antigua, MPs and ministries deal directly with community groups.
Points to know
- One of the 17 senators is appointed on the advice of the Barbuda Council, and one must live on Barbuda.
- Barbuda Council spending was about 2% of total government spending in 2016–17.
Local terms
- Barbuda Council
- The elected local government of the island of Barbuda.
Sources
- The local government system in Antigua and Barbuda: country profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- Antigua and Barbuda's Constitution of 1981, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Antigua and Barbuda's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.