Life On Barbuda: Is The Island Inhabited?

On September 6, 2017, Barbuda was hit by a Category 5 hurricane named Irma. The storm's eye passed directly over the island, resulting in wall winds, storm surges, and flooding. Irma rendered Barbuda uninhabitable, forcing the entire population of about 1,600 to 1,800 people to evacuate to the neighbouring island of Antigua. This was the first time in 300 years that no one lived on Barbuda.

The impact of Hurricane Irma on Barbuda's infrastructure and population

Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage to the infrastructure of Barbuda, a tiny Caribbean island. The storm's 150mph gusts damaged or destroyed almost every structure on the island, including its hospital, schools, and hotels. The police station was largely destroyed, and medical services were halted. The island's airport and much of its infrastructure were also left inoperative, including water and telecommunication services.

The storm left the island uninhabitable, and its 1,600 residents were evacuated to neighbouring Antigua. Around 1,300 people soon returned, but since then, most have lived without routine public services or safe housing. The government of Antigua and Barbuda estimated that reconstruction would cost between $200-$250 million.

In the weeks following the hurricane, a small number of people traveled back to Barbuda each day on a government ferry, returning to Antigua at night. The government did not allow inhabitants to return until September 29, three weeks after the hurricane.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, the government of Antigua and Barbuda pushed through new laws that enabled the construction of a multi-million-dollar luxury tourism resort and a golf course on a protected wetland. The government also built a private jet airstrip through 300 acres of untouched forest.

As of 2024, seven years after the hurricane, Barbuda still bears its scars. Damaged homes and churches remain unrepaired, roads are rugged, and a temporary dumpsite near the airport continues to be filled with industrial waste and cleanup debris.

The communal land ownership system in Barbuda

The Caribbean island of Barbuda is the only island in the world where all land is held in common by Barbudans. The land is not property of the state, nor is there any private property; land cannot be sold. Communal land ownership has allowed Barbudans to keep the island out of the global land market, to limit the built environment, and to protect the delicate ecosystem of its coastal areas and lagoons.

Since emancipation from slavery in 1834, Barbudans have governed their land in common, without private ownership. Residents and their descendants can confirm their claim for parcels of land with the democratically elected, 11-member Barbuda council. The Barbuda Land Acts establish that the citizens of Barbuda communally own the land. The act specifies that residents must provide consent for major development projects on the island. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda passed the act on January 17, 2008.

The act states that all people in Barbuda own the land collectively. Any citizen over 18 years old has the right to occupy residential land, graze animals, and use land for commercial purposes, as long as projects are not considered major developments. The act also gives citizens the ability to voice their support or discontent for development on the island. The majority of citizens must support a major development project in order for a land lease to be granted. The governing Council and Cabinet must also approve development projects.

In 2016, the act was altered to increase the standard price of a major development required for a country-wide vote. Gaston Browne, the current prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, has expressed interest in transitioning to a privatized land system. However, Barbudans have resisted these efforts, arguing that the land is legally owned communally.

The relationship between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin island state in the Caribbean, consisting of two major islands and several smaller islands. It is a unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as the nominal head of state, represented by a governor-general. The governor-general, in turn, appoints the head of government, the prime minister, who must be a member of the House of Representatives. The current prime minister is Gaston Browne.

The island of Barbuda, which is smaller and less built up than Antigua, has historically been governed separately from Antigua, with the island's residents governing their land in common without private ownership. Since emancipation from slavery in 1834, residents and their descendants have been able to claim parcels of land with the democratically elected, 11-member Barbuda Council.

However, the relationship between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda has been tense at times, particularly following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The hurricane damaged or destroyed almost every structure on the island, and its 1,600 residents were evacuated to Antigua. In the aftermath, the government of Antigua and Barbuda, led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, sought to revoke the centuries-old system of communal land rights on Barbuda, stating that freehold tenure would allow Barbudans to secure bank loans to rebuild their houses.

This move was met with collective resistance from Barbudan locals who argued that the Antiguan government wanted to establish freehold tenure to free up the island for purchase by international interests for mass tourism development, as had happened in Antigua. Locals maintained that they legally owned the land communally and that the Antiguan government was exploiting the crisis caused by the hurricane to reap profits, a practice known as "disaster capitalism".

The political power imbalance between the two islands has contributed to the tense relationship. Antigua and Barbuda has 17 parliamentary members, only one of whom represents Barbuda, with political power concentrated in Antigua. Thissection will now focus on the relationship between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, providing a detailed and instructive overview.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has maintained that revoking communal land rights is necessary to rebuild the island and that a system of commercial land rights is essential for developing the necessary infrastructure, such as an international airport and a cruise ship port. They have also emphasised the need for security and policing on the island to prevent it from becoming a haven for drug traffickers.

The recovery and rebuilding process on Barbuda has been slow, and as of 2024, basic services such as banking and postal services remain limited or non-functional. The Antiguan government has continued to encourage Barbudans to migrate off the island, and while some have chosen to remain in Antigua, many want to return home to Barbuda. The government has stated its intention to rebuild the island, but this will require significant international humanitarian aid.

In summary, the relationship between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda has been complex and, at times, contentious. The two islands have different historical, cultural, and economic contexts, and their relationship has been marked by tensions over land rights, development, and the pace of recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

The role of international aid in Barbuda's recovery

In September 2017, the island of Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma, which destroyed most structures and vegetation and forced a mass evacuation of the population to neighbouring Antigua. The island was left without electricity and water, and 90-95% of buildings were damaged. The recovery process has been slow and difficult, with many residents living without routine public services or safe housing.

International aid has played a crucial role in Barbuda's recovery. The Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Relief Fund, established after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and renamed in 1998, has provided financial, material, technical, and advisory support to the country and its residents. The fund partnered with Medical Ministry International to provide medical and surgical supplies, with the first shipment arriving at the Hannah Thomas Hospital in Barbuda in December 2022.

Prominent individuals, such as actor Robert De Niro, have also contributed to the relief efforts, with donations totalling around $5 million or more. However, the country's prime minister, Gaston Browne, has emphasised that a few million dollars are a "drop in the bucket" and that a massive effort is required to rebuild the island. He has called for international humanitarian help and support from neighbouring countries, acknowledging that the small island community cannot rebuild without external assistance.

While the international aid and donations have provided much-needed support, the scale of the disaster and the cost of rebuilding present significant challenges. The government of Antigua and Barbuda estimated that reconstruction would cost between $200 and $250 million, a significant amount for a small nation.

The recovery process has also been complicated by the government's plans to commercialise communal lands and develop the island for mass tourism. This has led to resistance from locals, who argue that the government is exploiting the disaster to advance these plans.

The future of tourism in Barbuda

In 2017, Hurricane Irma ravaged the island of Barbuda, causing mass evacuations and leaving the island "uninhabitable". The storm obliterated the island's infrastructure, flattening almost every building. In the years since, the island has been slowly rebuilding, and tourism has been identified as a key driver of economic growth.

Before the hurricane, Barbuda was known for its sustainable fishing industry, lobster exports, and low-key tourism. The island had largely escaped overdevelopment and was mostly left in its natural state, with natural, long beaches and pristine waters.

Now, the future of tourism in Barbuda is at a crossroads. On one hand, the government of Antigua and Barbuda wants to develop the island into a more prominent tourist destination, which would involve ending the traditional system of communal land ownership. This system has been in place since emancipation from slavery in 1834 and is fiercely defended by Barbudans, who argue that it is essential to their culture and way of life.

The government's plans include building an international airport and a cruise ship port, which they argue will bring much-needed economic growth to the island. However, many Barbudans are suspicious of these plans, believing that the government is exploiting the disaster to commercialize their land and sell it to international interests for private resorts. They argue that small-scale, sustainable tourism is a better path forward and that any development must be done according to the population's needs and in a way that preserves the natural environment.

The debate over the future of tourism in Barbuda is ongoing, and it remains to be seen which vision will win out. However, with the island's stunning natural beauty, friendly and welcoming people, and unique culture, it is clear that Barbuda has a lot to offer visitors. As the island continues to rebuild and recover, it will be important to strike a balance between development and preserving the local way of life and environment that makes Barbuda so special.

With proper planning and a focus on sustainability, Barbuda has the potential to become a top tourist destination while still preserving the aspects that make it so unique and beloved by its residents.

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