Resisting land grabs, Barbuda

GLAN is supporting Barbudan land defenders taking on the big developers exploiting their homeland

Case summary

Since Hurricane Irma in 2017, ultra-wealthy developers have been granted leases by the government to build luxury resorts and infrastructure, often against the will of the local community. GLAN is working closely with Barbudan land defenders to resist these land grabs by mapping developer leases, documenting environmental and legal violations, and supporting legal challenges to protect communal land rights and the Ramsar-listed wetlands.

Case background

In 2017, the small, low-lying island of Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma. The government forcibly evacuated residents, despite many wanting to remain. Later the same month work commenced on the private airstrip negotiated as part of the new ‘luxury resorts’; developers come on to the island to build the additional runway rather than focus on relief efforts.

Ever since ultra-wealthy developers have been fencing off vast stretches of the coastline for their projects. This is in spite of communal land ownership rights in Barbuda, which mean that citizens have rights to utilise the island’s resources. Individual citizens, whether resident on the island or not, have the exclusive right of occupation to a plot of land for a house, for a farm and for commercial purposes other than major developments. Common land ownership was established after Barbuda ended slavery in 1834 and was officially recognised by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in 2007.

Map of developer 'leases'

Goat Island

Two Foot Bay

Paradise Found - DeNiro

Gravenor Bay

Coco Point

*Click the underlined map text for more details about each lease. Best viewed on desktop.

This is a basic map to represent the leases that are cutting off the coastline for local people, and traditional and community land use. All areas of the island have historically been communal and used freely by locals for foraging, sustainable hunting, agriculture, gathering materials for traditional handicrafts and recreation. Most of the coastline is accessed by small scale fisher-people and this right to access their own coastline is now being threatened. We are working with locals to create a much more detailed map.

Case Timeline

December 2020

GLAN submits a complaint to the Ramsar Secretariat to urgently intervene to arrange an independent advisory mission to visit and advise on ongoing and future threats to the protected wetland of the Codrington Lagoon.

September 2022

Joint campaign by GLAN and Front Line Defenders to end prosecution of 22 land defenders on the island of Barbuda is successful.

May 2023

GLAN visits Barbuda for community consultation and to gather evidence of environmental and human rights harms.

November 2023

Barbudan land defenders, John & Jackie, supported by GLAN, fight ruling on their 'legal standing' in a challenge to the new airport at the UK Privy Council.

February 2024

Local fisherman and GLAN take new case as co-claimants to protect Barbudan wildlife and Ramsar Protected Wetland.

February 2024

Land defenders John and Jackie win their case at the Privy Council. The court rules that they have legal standing to challenge the private jet airport on Barbuda. The case goes back Caribbean courts with Barbudans continuing their fight.

April 2024

The Barbuda Council are notified by the central government that all Barbudan land will be adjudicated and any land they deem 'unused' or 'unclaimed' will revert to the crown / central government ownership.

April - June 2024

GLAN and BLRRC file complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights over the latest land grab via 'land adjudication' process. Further information submitted in June.

September 2024

A judicial review challenge filed against the land adjudication process by the Barbuda Council.

September 2024

Constitutional challenge filed against the land adjudication process by Barbudan community members.

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