Committees of the Barbuda Council

The Barbuda Council has committees that may be created by the by-laws of the council or under the Barbuda Local Government Act that are responsible for departmentalising the functions of the council and delegating the tasks of the council.

Creation
The Barbuda Council may make bylaws governing meeting times and procedures, member attendance, and the format and sequence of discussions, as well as the selection of committees, committee constitutions, their composition, regulation of committee proceedings, and its committees' conduct of business.

Roles and legislation
The Barbuda Council secretary undertakes the required preparations for the council's and its committees' meetings. The secretary of the Council must also attend all meetings of the committees. The secretary of the council or the chairperson of the committees may call meetings of the committees whenever they feel it necessary. A majority of the members present and voting at a meeting shall decide on each subject before the committee. The chairperson of a Committee, as the case may be, has an initial vote and, in the event of a tie, a second or casting vote. This applies to any item that must be decided by a vote at a meeting of the council or a committee thereof. Any committee member who is present at a meeting of the committee where the matter is to be considered has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, by himself or his partner in any contract, proposed contract, or other matter, must disclose his interest at the meeting, refrain from participating in any discussion or consideration of the matter, and withdraw from the meeting during such discussion.

The Barbuda Council is required to establish a finance committee, a works and general purposes committee, and a health and social welfare committee at its first meeting of the year. A council member is eligible to serve on multiple committees. The council is free to create any other committees it sees proper for either general or special reasons.

Delegated tasks
The Barbuda Council may assign any duties that fall under its purview—other than the authority to create bylaws, raise money, approve yearly budgets, or borrow money—to a committee that it has appointed. It may do so with or without restrictions.

2023 appointments
With the appointment of the new chairperson on January 16, 2024, the composition of the Barbuda Council committees stays the same. The chair of the committee on health, social welfare, and disaster relief is Wayde Burton, sports and youth affairs, agriculture, lands, fisheries, and coastal protection is John Mussington, and finance is chaired by Barbuda MP Trevor Walker.

In addition, Fitzroy Warner chairs the Utilities Committee, Nadia George chairs the Tourism and Culture Committee, Melanie Beazer chairs the Education Committee, and Nico Antonio chairs the Works Committee.

April 2017 appointments attempt
An attempt was made to create six committees, with the Barbuda People's Movement and the Labour Party each chairing three, however, this did not succeed.