Bishop Charlesworth E. Browne, leader of Kingdom Leaders, Antigua, has called on national organisers to permanently end the scheduling of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Independence Food Fair on Sundays, insisting the annual event should not clash with religious worship.
Speaking following the publication of the official national calendar of events, Browne expressed dismay that this year’s fair was set for Sunday, 25 October 2026. He noted that both ordained and lay church leaders across the Christian community objected strongly to holding the festivities on the Lord’s Day.
While acknowledging that appeals to reschedule this year’s fair came late, Browne maintained that the timing of the request does not diminish the underlying principle, declaring: “In any case, never again on the Lord’s Day!”.
Beyond Sunday observance, Browne urged event coordinators to respect Saturday worship observed by denominations such as Seventh-day Adventists, arguing that state celebrations must accommodate established days of worship across the religious spectrum.
Connecting the dispute to wider societal issues, the bishop argued that isolated National Days of Prayer or occasional thanksgiving services are insufficient without a sustained commitment to Christian values. He stressed that the convenience of hosting public events on weekends must ultimately yield to spiritual consecration.
