Task Force – By Jeressa Jeremy
Task Force Promises Spectacular
Antigua and Barbuda’s Independence celebrations will take on a different look and feel this year. The announcement was made by Everton Barnes, Co-chair of Media and Public Affairs Committee during the first official media briefing for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026.
“November 1st, 2026, it’s our 45th anniversary of political independence,” Barnes said. “And, as per usual, we will have the Ceremonial Parade, but this time we will have international guests who will be here, and it’s very likely that some will attend.”
Barnes explained that the Department of Culture and the Creative Industries Department are working to ensure the milestone stands out.
“What the Department of Culture or the Creative Industries Department is engaged in is to make sure that the 45th anniversary is not the normal, not the usual run of the mill, but there’s a spectacular program that is put together,” he added. “So that is something to look forward to.”
The celebrations will also feature a “Global Citizen Nights Concert”. Barnes noted that Prime Minister Gaston Browne was previously invited to a Global Citizen event held on the sidelines of a United Nations Assembly.
“Well, that same organization is going to be here as part of CHOGM 26, and they are putting on a major concert,” he said. “Details are not yet finalized, but we know that there will be an international artist along with Caribbean stars and Caribbean voices.”
According to Barnes, the partnership aims to move regional representation to a broader stage.
“We want to position the region’s culture at the center and not the peripheral to global civic life. The event will reach audiences far beyond the venue as it could be live-streamed and shared across Global Citizen’s social platforms of 12 million followers.”
Due to the scale of the upcoming events, officials confirmed that specialized security and transportation protocols will be in effect for both the media and the public.
