Antigua and Barbuda will move ahead next year with plans to rebuild the old Parliament building and convert it into a dedicated Family Court, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams announced Thursday during the Throne Speech.

Sir Rodney said the project will formally begin in 2026 and is intended to separate family matters from the regular Magistrates’ Courts, creating a more suitable environment for sensitive cases.

He told Parliament the restored structure “will serve as the Family Court, isolating its sittings from the Magistrates Courts,” and said the government expects the redesigned facility to become “a model for the Eastern Caribbean.”

The new Family Court is part of a wider justice-sector agenda that includes expanding the Industrial Court, increasing legal drafting capacity, and updating the Labour Code. Sir Rodney said these reforms are aimed at strengthening the rule of law and improving access to justice across the country.

The government is expected to release detailed plans for the rebuilding project in the coming months.