By Elesha George reporting from Codrington
Barbudans will not be forced back into what is being described as a “slave condition,” warned Mackenzie Frank, Deputy Chairman of the Barbuda Council, as the government presses ahead with its contentious land adjudication process.
“No one government can determine what should be the future of a whole people having just been elected for a five-year term,” he insisted.
The 71-year-old, a former Senator for Barbuda, criticised the move, which could see lands in Barbuda sold for the first time in history, as a significant departure from the island’s long-held tradition of communal land ownership.
The adjudication process, set in motion after a July 2023 amendment to the Registered Land Act, will allow land outside Codrington to be registered and sold.
Frank was one of the appellants who brought forward the case against the government upon which judgement they are now relying to put lands in Barbuda up for sale. The government is using the 2022 Privy Council ruling, which affirmed that lands in Antigua and Barbuda belong to the Crown, to support its decision. The law now allows citizens from Antigua and foreign investors to purchase land in Barbuda, a right previously reserved for Barbudans only.
Despite this, Frank argues that the government must still comply with current laws that require significant investments involving land to be leased, not sold.
“The laws haven’t been changed yet,” Frank pointed out, referencing previous developments like the Paradise Found project, which required special legislation to bypass Barbudan property rights. He added that Barbudans have administered their land for over 150 years since the end of slavery in 1834, with laws passed as early as 1904 governing land distribution. In 1976, the Barbuda Council was granted authority over land administration, a power that was further entrenched in the country’s 1981 Constitution, followed by the Barbuda Land Act of 2007.
The impact of the sale of land, particularly to wealthy investors, could give them the right to purchase hundreds of acres of prime land and it is already threatening beach access on the west coast of Barbuda.
“They’re blocking us from getting to the beach. Now, we will not allow that to happen,” Frank asserted. “We have taken out several cases against people trying to do that, and we will continue to resist encroachment on the lands that we have occupied for over 300 years.”
According to Frank, Barbudans have historically used all of Barbuda for cultivation and grazing their livestock, which includes thousands of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and even feral animals such as deer.
He argued that this crucial aspect of Barbudan life is being disregarded by the government. “When this adjudication act came up, we were left wondering how the government decided to take all of those areas,” he said.
In the government’s defence, it sees the move as setting Barbuda up for economic development by turning it into a high-end luxury destination. Already hotel developers have invested tens of millions of dollars building mega developments to accommodate the government’s vision.
The adjudication process is a step closer to ensuring that there is no dispute over the possession of land by systematically registering all land on Barbuda. It will register the names of people claiming an interest in property and establish those names once proper historical claims can be made. The remaining parcels of land will likely be earmarked for the government to use as it sees fit.
Frank also weighed in on the construction of Barbuda’s international airport, which is slated to open on October 3. While he doesn’t oppose development, he criticised the lack of consultation with the Barbudan people.
“Whether there was a need for an international airport at this point in time is neither here nor there,” he said. “The problem is that the government never took the time to speak to Barbudans about it.”
Frank alleged that the government exploited the aftermath of a major hurricane to push forward with the project, knowing that many Barbudans had evacuated the island.
Looking ahead, Frank expressed doubts about the potential for improved relations between Barbuda and the central government in Antigua. “The problem has been that the political leadership in Antigua since 1980 has focused solely on exploiting the lands in Barbuda,” he lamented. “If you’ve got that level of exploitation, there will be no peace.”
Frank recalled that during the 1980 independence talks in London, which he was a part of, Barbudans had proposed greater autonomy for their island, similar to what Nevis enjoys within the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. However, those proposals were rejected. Since then, Barbudans have been seeking a clearer understanding of their relationship with the central government.
“The government has been crushing the people of Barbuda,” Frank stated. “Prime Minister Gaston Browne is following in the tradition of his Labour Party predecessors.”
Reflecting on the period between 2004 and 2014 under the leadership of UPP Prime Minister Dr Baldwin Spencer, Frank said that Barbudans experienced a more positive relationship with the central government.
“We look back with envy at those days because they were hopeful times,” he said. “But now the relationship is totally askew. Mr Browne doesn’t understand government—he only understands the power of the dollar.”
The outcome of the conflict over Barbuda’s land sales is still developing and uncertain. At present, Barbudans, led by figures like Frank, are strongly resisting the government’s efforts to implement land adjudication and open the island’s lands for sale.
The tension revolves around deeply rooted cultural and historical land practices, contrasting with the central government’s push for development and economic gains, particularly through foreign investments. The situation raises broader questions about autonomy, governance, and the rights of indigenous communities.
Several factors will likely determine the eventual resolution:
1. Legal challenges: Barbudans are pursuing legal action to block or slow the land sales. They could appeal to international bodies, local courts, or even push for legislative changes to protect their communal land ownership.
2. Political pressure: Barbudans may use political leverage, both locally and internationally, to build support for their cause. Public opinion, international advocacy, and political negotiations could shape the future of the dispute.
3. Compromise or consultation: If the government faces strong resistance, there could be a push for more meaningful consultations, resulting in a compromise or revised legislation to address Barbudans’ concerns about land sales, development, and access to natural resources.
4. Economic development versus tradition: The balance between economic development (such as tourism, foreign investments, and infrastructure projects like the international airport) and the preservation of Barbuda’s communal traditions may also shape how this dispute evolves. A shift in leadership or public policy in Antigua could also alter the course of events.
