Barbuda Council Rejects Allegations in Cabinet Release

Barbuda Council Rejects Allegations in Cabinet Release

The Barbuda Council has strongly refuted claims made in a cabinet release dated January 23, 2025, which they describe as false and misleading. In a press statement issued on January 24, 2025, the Council reaffirmed its authority under the Barbuda Local Government Act of 1976, as amended and entrenched in the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, which empowers it to administer the island.

Central to the dispute is the alleged effort by the central government to alter Barbuda’s communal land system to establish a luxury real estate market, purportedly involving the sale of up to 800 high-value properties, each priced between US$3 million and US$14 million. The Council declared its firm opposition to these plans, aligning itself with the majority of Barbudans in defending the island’s communal patrimony.

The Council has taken proactive measures, issuing stop orders to individuals clearing land without proper authorization. These lands reportedly include provision grounds, some with historical ties to Barbudans’ ancestors, and residential lots allocated by the Council.

In their statement, the Council dismissed comments attributed to Lionel Hurst, suggesting that the Privy Council had determined all land in Antigua and Barbuda not privately owned belongs to the Crown. The Council clarified that the cited Privy Council case (Case ID JPC/2021/0070) focused solely on the Paradise Found Act of 2015 and did not make any determinations about Barbuda’s communal land system.

The Barbuda Council urged residents to resist efforts to undermine their rights to Barbuda’s lands, reiterating their commitment to preserving the communal system. The Council’s statement concluded with a resolute message: “Barbuda’s Lands are NOT for Sale.”

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]