Barbuda's Resilience: A Story Of Survival And Recovery

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma destroyed more than 90% of the buildings on the island of Barbuda, forcing the entire population to evacuate to Antigua. The island has since been rebuilding, but the trauma of the hurricane has taken its toll. Barbuda is part of a three-island state with Antigua and uninhabited Redonda in the northeastern Caribbean. It is known for its pristine beaches, which are often sprinkled with pink sand, as well as its natural way of life. The island has a population of approximately 1,500 people, who mostly live in the village of Codrington. Barbuda is an autonomous entity, with a chairperson and a vice chairperson who are elected by the Barbuda Council. The island has a unique system of communal land ownership, which has been a source of conflict with the Antiguan government.

The impact of Hurricane Irma

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm, wreaked havoc on the island of Barbuda, destroying more than 90% of its buildings and forcing the evacuation of the entire population to Antigua. The impact of the hurricane was devastating, leaving the island in a state of ruin and its residents traumatised.

The storm's powerful winds ripped through the island, causing extensive damage to homes, guesthouses, and hotels. The destruction was so severe that only two hotels, Barbuda Belle and Barbuda Cottages, remained operational after the hurricane. The slow recovery process has been aided by charities, but many residents continue to struggle with a lack of access to electricity and running water. The trauma caused by the hurricane has also left some residents too traumatised to return.

Hurricane Irma's impact extended beyond the physical damage to infrastructure. The storm also disrupted the island's economy, which relies heavily on tourism and fisheries. The loss of buildings and the subsequent evacuation of residents resulted in a significant decline in tourism, further exacerbating the economic challenges faced by the island.

The natural environment of Barbuda was also significantly affected by the hurricane. NASA satellite images captured the "browning" of the island, indicating that the storm's winds had stripped away green vegetation and that salt spray from the hurricane had coated and desiccated tree leaves. This environmental impact threatened the rural way of life on the island and put the coastline in danger of permanent damage.

Despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, the residents of Barbuda have demonstrated resilience and determination in their recovery efforts. By February 2019, most of the island's residents had returned, and the community continues to rebuild and welcome visitors. The impact of Hurricane Irma on Barbuda serves as a reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the strength and perseverance of those affected.

The island's history of slavery

The island of Barbuda has a long and complex history of slavery. The island was first inhabited by canoe-driving hunter-gatherers around 3,000-4,000 years ago, and subsequently by the Arawak and Kalinago peoples. Early settlements by the Spanish, French, and English laid the groundwork for colonisation and the establishment of slavery.

In 1678, Barbuda was officially colonised and granted to the Codrington family by the crown. The colony was intended to be a slave-breeding colony, and the Codringtons brought slaves from Africa's western coast to work on their plantations. The slave population in Barbuda grew naturally from 172 in 1746 to 503 in 1831. The Codringtons also attempted to transfer some of their slaves to Antigua to increase profits, but this was ultimately unsuccessful.

The first slave rebellion on Barbuda, Beach's Rebellion, occurred in 1741 as a result of the cruel and inhumane treatment of slaves by the island manager, Thomas Beach. This was followed by another rebellion in 1774, during which slaves occupied the Codringtons' castle and seized arms and ammunition. To put down this rebellion, soldiers were brought in from Antigua, and two slaves were burned alive in front of the castle.

In 1834, slavery was finally abolished in Barbuda, per the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. The freed slaves continued to work on the plantations for nominal wages or lived in shantytowns and worked as occasional labourers. The economic opportunities for freed slaves were limited by a lack of agricultural land and access to credit. This led to a continued dependence on the plantation owners, who still held significant economic power.

The legacy of slavery in Barbuda is important to understanding the island's history and the struggles faced by the Afro-Barbudan population. It is also a reminder of the inhumane treatment and exploitation of enslaved people during the colonial era.

Barbuda's relationship with Antigua

Barbuda and Antigua are two islands that form an independent state in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. They are often described as "sister islands", with Barbuda located 30-40km north of Antigua. The islands are part of a three-island state, along with the uninhabited island of Redonda.

The islands were colonised by Europeans at different times, with Antigua being settled by the English in 1632 and Barbuda in 1678. The Codrington family, who were granted the island of Barbuda by the crown in 1685, attempted to establish a slave-breeding colony on Barbuda, but this never came to fruition. Instead, the slaves who were imported to the island lived self-reliantly in their own community.

In 1834, slavery was abolished in both islands, leading to labour shortages on the profitable sugar estates. This, along with an earthquake in 1843 and a hurricane in 1847, caused economic difficulties. During this period, Barbuda reverted to the crown, and its administration became closely linked with that of Antigua, eventually becoming a dependency of the larger island in 1859.

In the 20th century, the two islands became part of the short-lived West Indies Federation, which was dissolved in 1962. Following this, Antigua and Barbuda became an associated state of the UK, with full internal autonomy. However, the path towards independence was complicated by tensions between the two islands, with Barbuda seeking to secede due to economic grievances. Despite these tensions, the islands gained full independence from the UK in 1981, becoming a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as its head of state.

Today, the islands' relationship is defined by their status as a twin-island state, with Barbuda enjoying a significant degree of autonomy. The Barbuda Council, established in 1976, allows Barbuda to regulate its public works, finance, agriculture, and other activities independently. The islands' political systems are also closely linked, with both being unitary parliamentary democracies. The islands' economies are largely dependent on tourism, with the central and local governments being the largest employers on Barbuda.

The island's geography and wildlife

Barbuda is a flat island with a western portion dominated by the Codrington Lagoon and an eastern portion dominated by an elevated plateau, with salty ponds and scrubland spread throughout. The island is 15 miles long, 8 miles wide, and has very little topographical diversity. The highest elevation on the island is 38 meters (125 feet) in the Barbuda Highlands on the eastern side. The northwest corner is home to many lagoons. The island is susceptible to hurricanes from August to October.

The climate is tropical marine, with little seasonal temperature variation. The coolest months, January and February, have an average daily high of 27 °C (81 °F), while the warmest months, July and August, have an average daily high of 30 °C (86 °F).

Barbuda is home to several rare and endemic species, including the Barbuda warbler, the Antiguan racer (one of the rarest snakes in the world), and Griswold's ameiva. The island also hosts several near-threatened bird species, such as the West Indian whistling duck and the White-crowned pigeon. The Magnificent Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Codrington Lagoon is one of the primary tourist destinations on Barbuda and is a crucial breeding area for these threatened birds.

The island boasts a 17-mile-long pink sand beach and crystal-clear waters. The Darby Cave, a sinkhole in the Barbuda Highlands, features a tropical rainforest with palms, ferns, and lianas. The Dark Cave, located two miles south, was a source of water for early inhabitants and is home to the blind shrimp and various bat species. The Nicey Cave has five chambers and a collapsed roof that serves as a rear entrance and skylight.

Barbuda has an abundance of seafood, including lobster, conch, and fish such as kingfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, and barracuda. Large barracuda can be found near the shore and are widely consumed on the island.

The Codrington family's influence

The Codringtons were absentee owners of Barbuda, but their influence was felt through their managers, who often faced resistance from the island's slave population. Beach's Rebellion in 1741, for example, was a response to the "cruel and tyrannical" behaviour of manager Thomas Beach. Another uprising occurred in 1834-35 when there was an attempt to forcibly ship all Barbudans to Codrington plantations in Antigua, which was resisted by the slaves.

The Codringtons were one of the most influential and prosperous planters in the Lesser Antilles during British colonial rule. They held extensive properties and slaves throughout the West Indies and counted colonial governors, military officers, and members of Parliament among their members. The town of Codrington on Barbuda, as well as Codrington College on Barbados, are named after the family.

The Codringtons leased Barbuda until the late 19th century when the island reverted to the Crown and became a dependency of Antigua.

Frequently asked questions