Dear Editor,

There is something deeply troubling about the way political leadership operates in Antigua and Barbuda today.

When the Prime Minister speaks on a controversial matter, the nation hears him clearly. But when that controversy raises questions about the Government as a whole, the voices of the other ministers seem to disappear.

That should concern every citizen.

The latest dispute involving the Prime Minister, the judiciary and the legal profession is not merely a disagreement between individuals. It has developed into a national conversation about the independence of the judiciary, the separation of powers and the way our institutions are expected to function.

These are matters that should concern the entire Cabinet.

Yet, apart from the Prime Minister, where are the ministers?

A Cabinet is not supposed to be a collection of individuals who speak only when it is convenient. These men and women were elected or appointed to help govern the country. They make decisions that affect every one of us.

With that responsibility comes an obligation to engage with the public, particularly when national institutions are under scrutiny.

I am not suggesting that every Cabinet minister must publicly criticise the Prime Minister. Nor am I suggesting that they must disagree with him simply for the sake of appearing independent.

What I am asking is much simpler: What do they believe?

If they agree with the Prime Minister, why not explain why?

If they have concerns about the approach being taken, why not say so?

And if they believe the matter should be left to the courts and the relevant constitutional institutions, why not tell the public that?

Silence provides none of those answers.

It also creates the unfortunate impression that Cabinet ministers are more concerned about political consequences than about explaining their positions to the people they serve.

That is not healthy for democracy.

The Attorney General’s position deserves particular attention.

At a time when questions of law, constitutional authority and judicial independence are dominating public discussion, the country should not have to guess what its chief legal adviser thinks.

Of course, confidential discussions between the Attorney General and Cabinet must remain confidential. But there is a difference between protecting privileged legal advice and refusing to explain the Government’s broader position on an issue of national importance.

The public deserves reassurance that constitutional principles are being taken seriously.

It deserves to know that the Government understands the importance of an independent judiciary.

And it deserves to know whether the country’s legal leadership agrees that disagreements over judicial decisions should be addressed through established legal and constitutional channels.

This is bigger than one Prime Minister.

It is bigger than one judge.

It is bigger than one Cabinet.

The real issue is what kind of political culture we want to develop in Antigua and Barbuda.

Do we want ministers who speak only when they have been given permission to speak?

Do we want Cabinet members who remain quiet because challenging the Government’s most powerful voice could carry political consequences?

Or do we want a Cabinet made up of confident leaders who are capable of expressing their own considered views while still working collectively in the national interest?

Democracy should not depend on one voice.

A healthy government should be able to withstand questions from journalists, criticism from lawyers, disagreement from citizens and even differences of opinion within its own ranks.

That is not disloyalty.

That is accountability.

The people of Antigua and Barbuda did not elect a government simply to watch one person defend every controversial position while everyone else stands behind him in silence.

They deserve to hear from the people who sit around the Cabinet table.

This current controversy presents an opportunity for our ministers to demonstrate that Cabinet government means more than collective decision-making behind closed doors.

It should also mean collective responsibility in the public square.

Speak to the people.

Explain your position.

Defend the Government if you believe it is right.

Challenge it if you believe it is wrong.

But do not allow silence to become the default response whenever the country faces a difficult conversation.

Because when leaders refuse to speak, citizens are left to fill the silence themselves.

And that is when distrust begins to grow.

Concerned Antiguan

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: LETTER: Where Is the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda?.