Government Pushes Ahead with Barbuda Land Registry Despite Council Opposition

A growing dispute over land ownership and administration in Barbuda has intensified after the Government of Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed plans to establish a Barbuda Land Registry and move ahead with the sale of Crown lands on the island, prompting strong opposition from the Barbuda Council.

The issue was discussed during this week’s Cabinet meeting, where Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, provided an update on progress toward the establishment and operationalization of the Barbuda Land Registry.

According to Cabinet, significant strides have been made in developing the legal and administrative framework necessary to facilitate land registration and ownership transactions in Barbuda. Cabinet expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far and reiterated its position that all land transactions on the island must be conducted through legally recognized channels.

Cabinet also restated its longstanding view that the Barbuda Council has no legal authority to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of lands in Barbuda. As a result, the Government said any purported sale, lease, or transfer of land by the Council would be considered invalid and would not be recognized.

The Government maintains that the creation of a land registry will bring greater transparency, certainty, and security to land ownership and development matters on the island. It also warned that any structures erected without the required legal approvals or permissions would be deemed illegal and could face enforcement action, including demolition.

The administration says its objective is to promote orderly development, protect property rights, and ensure all land-related activities comply with national laws and regulations.

However, the Barbuda Council has sharply rejected the Government’s plans, arguing that the island’s communal land ownership system remains protected under existing legislation.

In a statement issued this week, the Council accused the Gaston Browne administration of attempting to create the impression that a luxury real estate market exists in Barbuda while fundamental questions regarding land ownership remain unresolved before the courts.

The Council said it would oppose any effort to use land adjudication and registration laws to facilitate the sale of what it described as “the people’s land.” It contends that the Barbuda Local Government Act grants the Council authority over the island’s lands and local affairs and that communal ownership remains a cornerstone of Barbudan identity and self-governance.

Council officials also called on Barbudans to resist any attempts to undermine traditional land rights, insisting that all lands in Barbuda belong collectively to the people of the island.

The latest clash comes as court proceedings related to land ownership and administration in Barbuda continue this week.

Cabinet recently announced that the land adjudication process is nearing completion and indicated that the Barbuda Land Registry is expected to become operational by the end of August.

Initially, the registry is expected to be administered through the existing Land Registry system in Antigua, with the Government saying the move will improve land administration, record keeping, and public access to land services.

The Government has also indicated that more than 200 acres of land could be made available for purchase by Barbudans under its broader development strategy.

The Barbuda Council, however, remains adamant that the island’s lands are not for sale and has vowed to continue challenging any measures that seek to alter the existing communal land ownership system.

With both sides maintaining firmly opposing positions and legal proceedings still underway, the future of land ownership and administration in Barbuda remains one of the most contentious issues facing the island.