By Elesha George
The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) is pressing the court to compel the Development Control Authority (DCA) to release more information about a controversial development project at Cedar Tree Point, Barbuda.
Led by attorney Leslie Thomas, GLAN is seeking a court order for “specific disclosure” of documents it claims the DCA has withheld. The team argues that the government’s refusal to fully disclose information violates the Escazú Agreement—a regional treaty designed to ensure transparency in environmental matters.
GLAN’s attorney Sarah O’Malley expressed disappointment in the government’s refusal to disclose additional documents, stating that the limited information provided hampers their ability to challenge decisions with potential environmental impacts.
“They claim to have disclosed everything relevant, yet we only recently obtained the development permit we are contesting,” O’Malley said. “Without the reasons for granting the permit, it is impossible to mount a comprehensive challenge.”
During Tuesday’s hearing, Thomas outlined a detailed list of documents necessary for the case, including correspondence related to the permits, approved development plans, and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). He argued that full disclosure is crucial to understanding the decision-making process behind the project’s approval.
The Attorney General’s Office, represented by Carla Brookes-Harris, insisted that all relevant documents had already been provided. However, the court directed GLAN to file a formal application for specific disclosure by January 6, 2025. If contested, both sides must submit arguments by January 14.
Henry Anderson, an interested party and wealthy investor, also attended the hearing alongside his lawyer, Kemar Roberts.
This legal action stems from a lawsuit filed by Barbudan fisherman and tour guide George Jeffery, represented by GLAN, against the DCA. Jeffery claims the DCA approved the development for Abercorn Trust, a wealthy English investor, without adhering to proper planning procedures. The lawsuit alleges the DCA failed to make the development permit public and disregarded recommendations from the Department of Environment (DoE) to revoke the permit.
Cedar Tree Point, located near the renowned Frigate Bird Sanctuary within the Codrington Lagoon National Park—a Ramsar-protected wetland—is a sensitive ecological zone. Residents worry that the project, which includes two luxury residences on 113.9 acres with buffer zones covering over 100 additional acres, will disrupt livelihoods and damage the fragile ecosystem.
Although the EIA claims the project avoids critical nesting areas, members of Barbuda’s local government said they only learned of the development through a DoE online post.
