Henry Anderson Director of Abercorn Trust (picture by The Independent)[/caption]
Henry Anderson, who leads the company behind the Cedar Tree Point luxury residential development in Barbuda, has dismissed concerns regarding the project’s environmental impact.
A court is set to decide soon whether the development should move forward or be halted, after the case was adjourned on Monday.
Barbudan fisherman George Jeffrey is contesting the decision made by the Development Control Authority of Antigua and Barbuda, with support from the Global Legal Action Network based in the UK. Jeffrey argues that the approval for construction near the Frigate Bird Sanctuary—an internationally recognized area within Codrington Lagoon National Park and a designated Ramsar wetland site—was unlawful.
But in a recent interview with State Media, Anderson stated that the development’s setbacks exceed the Department of Environment’s recommendations, which call for a 400-foot buffer from the ocean and over 4,000 feet from the Frigate Bird Sanctuary.
He further noted that a report from a marine biologist working for the parks in Antigua found no damage to the ecosystem; the frigate birds have not been harmed, turtle nesting remains unaffected, and the lagoon is healthy, indicating no environmental damage.
Anderson also highlighted that a larger hotel development near his project has not faced scrutiny, suggesting that his project is being unfairly targeted.
The Barbudan said the government had violated specific legal requirements outlined in the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Physical Planning Act, particularly by failing to publish the environmental impact assessment in the public registry, as required by law.
The stakes are too high to gamble with Barbuda’s fragile ecosystems. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary isn’t just a local treasure, it’s globally protected. Approvals must be transparent and lawful. This is about more than just one development, it’s about setting a precedent for environmental accountability.
Interesting how the smaller project is under fire while a bigger one gets a free pass. This smacks of selective enforcement, or worse, political favouritism. The court needs to apply the law fairly, not pick winners and losers.
Barbuda Barbuda Barbuda what can I say.
Let’s await the outcome of the trial before we start judging one or the other
If Barbuda doesn’t want your royal money then I will gladly take it
Notice how Barbduans waste time with nonesense and refuse to address the serious issue of incest down there.
Once the ecosystem is gone, it’s gone. Developers must be held to the highest environmental standards. Anything less is a betrayal of future generations.