Twelve Sworn – By Kisean Joseph
Twelve Sworn Festivals Commission
Twelve members of the newly constituted Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission Board have been formally sworn in at Government House, marking a significant government initiative to strengthen management and sustainability of the nation’s major cultural events.
The appointments represent the first board appointments under the Festivals Commission Act 2026, which established the Commission as a statutory body corporate.
Elizabeth Makhoul was appointed Chairperson, with Ryan Johnson named Deputy Chairperson. Additional board members are Larissa Barnes (Recording Secretary), Annette Aflak, Khan Cordice, Lynne Benjamin, Dwayne Mussington, Anika Davis, Okera Lee, Terrance Dyett, Devon Perry and Calbert Francis.
The board will oversee Antigua Carnival, as well as the One Nation Festival, which showcases diverse musical and cultural expressions. All members will serve two-year terms effective May 15th 2026 through May 14th 2028.
Governor General (GG) Sir Rodney Williams presided over the morning ceremony at Government House, where government ministers and other officials present. In his address he emphasised the Commission’s critical role in driving economic development through Antigua and Barbuda’s creative industries. The GG described festivals as far more than entertainment, highlighting their cultural significance and substantial economic potential.
“These festivals are much more than just entertainment,” he stated. “They are expressions of who we are as a people. They showcase our creativity, our resilience and also our traditions, our capacity to bring people together in celebration. Importantly, they also represent significant opportunities for economic development.”
Sir Rodney highlighted the global significance of what economists term the “orange economy,” the creative economy driven by culture, music, festivals, entertainment, intellectual property and innovation. He stressed that Antigua and Barbuda must position itself strategically to benefit from this rapidly expanding sector.
Sir Rodney also noted that festivals serve as powerful marketing tools, attracting visitors and generating employment whilst strengthening national pride.
“Our festivals should continue to encourage Antiguans and Barbudans living overseas to return home, reconnect with family and community and contribute to national development,” he said, reflecting on his experience as former Minister of Tourism.
He explained that successful events—not marketing budgets alone—drive visitor arrivals. “What brought people to Antigua were events, when we had cricket, when we had music and all that kind of stuff,” he noted. “I found that what brought people to Antigua were events.”
The GG acknowledged the importance of collaborative leadership across government.
“The success of our festivals depends not only on the effective planning and management but also on the ability to unite stakeholders around a common purpose and a shared vision for the future,” he stressed.
The creation of the Festivals Commission as a statutory body corporate represents a modernisation of festival management, placing operations on a formal legal and financial footing similar to the Tourism Authority. The new structure aims to enhance accountability, sustainability and the Commission’s capacity to deliver high-quality cultural experiences whilst generating meaningful economic activity.
