Commencing March 1, 2010, commercial importers will require a Tax Compliance Certificate from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue in order to clear goods through any of the ports of entry in Antigua and Barbuda. This measure, which forms part of the government’s Fiscal Consolidation Programme, was introduced by amendments passed in 2009 to the Inland Revenue Administration Act and the Customs (Control and Management) Act.

St John's, Antigua (15th February 2010) - Following a recently held retreat session of the Patriotic Democratic Movement (P.D.M) on Thursday 11th February 2010; group members tackled decisions on the choice way forward in dealing with pertinent challenges that have been affecting the steady flow of the organization's operations since it made a public announce of its intended strategic planning retreat and white paper compilation sessions in January 2010.

February 11, 2010….The Ministry Of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment, yesterday, in conjunction with the St. Johns Fire Department held a drill aimed at sensitizing employees at the procedure, protocol, and measures to ensure safety during evacuations.

More than 50 –employees at the Ministry’s headquarters on Independence Drive, rushed to safety, when the fire alarm sounded, shortly after 11 a.m.

A fire –engine was parked on the outside and the employees were directed into a holding area, in the court yard.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has said that the Public Sector Transformation National Public Speaking and Debate Competition was a tremendous success. The event that was designed to stimulate national dialogue on the government’s Public Sector Transformation agenda was held at the Multipurpose Cultural & Exhibition Centre on Thursday evening. The prime Minister sponsored the event.

St. Johns, Antigua, January 27, 2010: Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment, Hilson Baptiste has put mechanisms in place to transform an existing prison farm in the vicinity of Blackout.

To this end, a committee, comprising technicians from the ministry of agriculture and Her Majesty’s prison has been set –up to move the process of proper farm management practices and implementation forward.

LONDON 21 January 2010…His Excellency, Dr. Carl B. Roberts, the High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda, signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda with Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 18 January 2010. Signing on behalf of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was the Rt. Honourable Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner in the UK has now signed a total of three Tax Information Exchange Agreements on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.