Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin were required to retake their oaths of office after a procedural error saw an outdated version administered during Friday's official swearing-in ceremony at Government House. According to Antigua.news, the error was identified following the ceremony.
Browne revealed the details on the "Browne and Browne Show" on Point FM Saturday night, explaining that the oath initially administered referenced an old format tied to allegiance to the Crown.
"We were not properly sworn in on that basis," Browne said, noting that the discrepancy was identified after the ceremony had concluded.
The error stemmed from the use of an oath that did not reflect changes introduced under the Oaths Act 2025, which updated the wording to establish allegiance to the state of Antigua and Barbuda rather than the monarchy.
Browne confirmed that both he and the Attorney General subsequently participated in a corrected ceremony. "I had to go back and do it again," he said.
The Prime Minister was quick to downplay the significance of the incident, characterising it as an administrative matter that was promptly and fully resolved. Officials have confirmed the issue does not affect the legitimacy of the government.
