The Chairman of the Barbuda Council, Devon Warner, has publicly backed the family of the late Sir Eric Burton in their decision to decline the Labour Party government’s offer to name the island’s new international airport after the Barbudan stalwart.
In addressing news of their decision, Warner told Observer that he supported it fully.
In a letter dated September 16, the Burton family formally asked the government to reconsider its decision to name the airport the Burton-Nibbs International Airport.
The request comes in response to the government’s recent announcement that the airport, which is set to open on October 3, would bear the names of both Sir Eric Burton and Arthur Nibbs, acknowledging their respective contributions to the island’s constitutional and economic development.
However, the family expressed concern that the shared naming of the facility would not adequately honour either figure’s legacy. In their letter, they emphasised that Sir Eric’s contributions, which spanned decades and touched on Barbuda’s rich cultural heritage, should not be diluted.
“Our concern is that Sir Eric’s legacy spanned many decades, including the cultural heritage that he proudly shared with anyone who had the opportunity to interact with him. He represented an era that should never be forgotten. We humbly beg of you to consider our plea by not including Sir Eric’s name on the new international airport,” the letter stated.
The Burton family further acknowledged the significant role Nibbs played in developing the project and said that his contributions should be “duly recognised” without being diminished by a joint naming arrangement.
Nibbs is a former MP for Barbuda and former Barbuda Council chairman. He also played a key role in the crafting of the nation’s Constitution.
Sir Eric passed away in 2021 at the age of 90, having served as a former parliamentarian and leader of the opposition from 1984 to 1989. In 2012, he was conferred the honour of Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation for his service to politics, agriculture, and the fishing industry.
The new international airport is to become an integral part of the ABLP’s future plan for Barbuda’s development.
The government has not publicly responded to the Burton family’s request.
In its deliberations, the government said it had discussed using other names including the late Sir Claude Earl Francis, Sir Hilbourne Frank, Sir McChesney George, and Trevor Walker, all of whom Cabinet said had “worked tirelessly in the interest of the people of Barbuda”.
