Government Says Barbuda Has Attracted More Than EC$3 Billion in Investment

The government says Barbuda has attracted more than EC$3 billion in investment as officials defended the island’s development strategy and pointed to major infrastructure expansion underway on the sister isle.

The figure was highlighted Tuesday during the 2026 Throne Speech delivered by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams at the ceremonial opening of Parliament.

“More than EC$3,000,000,000 in investment have been generated for Barbuda,” Sir Rodney said while outlining the government’s plans for continued development on the island.

The speech said the investments are supporting a series of projects including roads, desalination plants, housing developments, a new village at Louie Hill and the construction of a new school.

Officials also pointed to the opening of a new runway and air terminal at Burton-Nibbs International Airport as part of broader efforts to transform Barbuda’s infrastructure and tourism product.

“No-one will be left behind in this new dispensation, my Government promises,” the Governor-General said.

Later in the address, the government linked the surge in investment activity to changes made to Barbuda’s land laws, which allowed Barbudans to obtain land ownership in fee simple for EC$1.

The speech defended the controversial reforms, arguing they ended generations of disenfranchisement and opened the door to increased foreign direct investment.

“My Government changed the law to allow—for the first time in the near-400-year modern history of the State—ownership to be claimed, by all those previously disenfranchised, for one dollar,” Sir Rodney said.

The Governor-General also referenced the legal battles surrounding development in Barbuda, noting that “every effort to place roadblocks in the path of development and progress in Barbuda, has failed.”

According to the speech, the government believes the level of investment now flowing into Barbuda is transforming the island into one of the Caribbean’s leading destinations for foreign direct investment.

“Today, more than EC$3 billion dollars have been invested in Barbuda, making the sister-isle one of the most attractive places in the Caribbean for foreign direct investments,” the Governor-General said.

The remarks come amid longstanding debate over land ownership, development and governance in Barbuda, where some residents and activists have opposed aspects of the government’s development model and challenged several projects in court.

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