“They’ve infringed on my property without my consent. I am a local Barbudan and I don’t seem to have any rights on my own island because of some billionaires”Miranda is fighting back – the developers who have encroached on her land bulldozed what was left of her businesses, already damaged by Hurricane Irma, and put up fences that take over acres of her land. GLAN is supporting Miranda to take on the developers as this case is a fight that affects all of Barbuda – if she is unable to fight her cases in court it risks developers taking over all of the remaining coastline that is still held by locals – and she could lose everything. Stand with Miranda now, support the fund for essential legal costs.
John Mussington and Jackie Frank are challenging the development of an environmentally harmful third airstrip and airport on Barbuda – that was built to give access to the ultra-wealthy’s private jets, on top of pristine forest without proper community consultation.
The case challenges the Antigua and Barbuda authorities over the Barbuda Airport development. Supported by GLAN, John and Jackie argue that the development began unlawfully, without any permit in place and bypassed local consultation and consent. Central government granted retrospective approval but relied on Environmental Impact Assessments that have been assessed as unfit for purpose and should not have been accepted by the planning authority.
The case has uncovered US developers ‘Peace, Love, Happiness’ (PLH) backed by billionaire John Paul DeJoria and Casamigos co-founder Michael Meldman’s ‘Discovery Land Company’ (DLC) contributed 5 million USD to the airport’s construction, which was intended to provide private jet access to villas for the ultra-wealthy. This included a development owned by Hollywood star Robert DeNiro and an infamous PLH development built in a national park over the island’s internationally listed wetland.
In 2024, the Privy Council sitting in London, ruled in John and Jackie’s favour after they appealed a decision of the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court which said that they did not have ‘standing’ to challenge the razing of pristine forest for the private jet airport. The decision recognised John and Jackie’s standing in line with Antigua and Barbuda’s international obligations under the Escazú Agreement which calls for transparency and broad public participation in decision-making in environmental matters. This was the first judgment in the Caribbean to utilise this progressive international instrument.
Goat Island
Two Foot Bay
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.
Barbuda, PLH (Barbuda) Limited, a Barbuda-incorporated company financed by the US-based legal entity Peace Love and Happiness LLC (PLH) is granted two 99-years leases (known as “Palmetto Point” or “Barbuda Ocean Club”) by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to construct an exclusive resort and community for wealthy clients.
Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the region, hit Antigua and Barbuda. 95% of buildings were left damaged.
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.
Joint campaign by GLAN and Front Line Defenders to end prosecution of 22 land defenders on the island of Barbuda is successful.
GLAN visits Barbuda for community consultation and to gather evidence of environmental and human rights harms.
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.
Local fisherman and GLAN take new case as co-claimants to protect Barbudan wildlife and Ramsar Protected Wetland.
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.
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.
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.
A judicial review challenge filed against the land adjudication process by the Barbuda Council.
Constitutional challenge filed against the land adjudication process by Barbudan community members.
The BBC covers the cases and speaks to Miranda Beazer about the fight to save her property.
John Mussington and Jackie Frank attend High Court of Antigua and Barbuda for a full hearing of their challenge against the environmentally harmful third airstrip and airport on Barbuda.
Barbudan land defenders John Mussington and Jackie Frank were in court yesterday…
Monday 1 June, John Mussington and Jackie Frank will be in the…
We are supporting claimants, Save Hemsby Coastline, Students Organising for Sustainability UK…
