Antigua and Barbuda’s Integrity Commission is facing renewed scrutiny after a U.S. government report highlighted its struggles to enforce anti-corruption laws despite being the only agency tasked with the job.
The 2025 Investment Climate Statement, released in September by the U.S. Department of State, said the commission is independent but “understaffed and under-resourced,” leaving it unable to fully investigate complaints or enforce the Integrity in Public Life Act.
That law requires all public officials to disclose their income, assets — including those of spouses and children — and gifts received while in office. The commission, appointed by the governor general, is responsible for probing noncompliance and violations of both the Integrity Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The report noted that allegations of corruption are common, with both major political parties frequently accusing the other, but “investigations yield few results.” Critics told U.S. officials that the Integrity Act is inadequately enforced and should be strengthened.
The State Department also flagged shortcomings in the country’s Freedom of Information Act, which grants citizens the right to request government documents. In practice, it said, residents often struggle to obtain records, a problem attributed to funding constraints rather than deliberate obstruction.
Antigua and Barbuda is party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The government says it applies criminal penalties when corruption is proven, but the report concluded that enforcement remains weak.
