Don’t change Barbuda Local Government Act, Underwood warns

The Education Officer of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), Joan Underwood, has issued an early warning to the ruling Antigua Barbuda Labour Party administration, against trying to use Parliament to manipulate or change the composition of the Barbuda Council.
She said she fears attempts will be made to change the Barbuda Local Government Act in wake of the even split of seats between the UPP’s ally — the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) and the ABLP on the council.
“We’ve already started to see attempts to erode the role and legal standing of the Barbuda Council. If you look at the Barbuda Land Act and what the current administration has sought to do there, you’ll see they have already started this process. But again, they can continue to try. As long as the people of Barbuda continue to have a say, it is going to be a long road to go,” she said.
Underwood was referring to the introduction of the Paradise Found Act which the UPP and BPM allege was enacted to undermine and sidestep the Barbuda Land Act, in order to get the Robert DeNiro/James Packer US $250 million resort project off the ground.
Underwood said she is confident that Barbudans will be vigilant, but at the same time, said they will need more support for their cause.
 
(More in today’s Daily Observer)