{"id":10560,"date":"2017-12-24T07:59:32","date_gmt":"2017-12-24T11:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=10560"},"modified":"2017-12-24T08:43:50","modified_gmt":"2017-12-24T12:43:50","slug":"barbudans-claim-of-land-grab-as-government-attempts-to-reform-laws-on-hurricane-devastated-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/barbudans-claim-of-land-grab-as-government-attempts-to-reform-laws-on-hurricane-devastated-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Barbudans claim of &#8216;land grab&#8217; as government attempts to reform laws on hurricane-devastated island"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-1784340401\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-3215923275\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div><footer class=\"footer-author\"><time class=\"article-date-published\" datetime=\"2017-12-23T14:26+0000\"><\/time><\/footer>\n<article data-insert-mobile-adslot=\"\">\n<div class=\"articleBodyText version-2 section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component version-2\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p>(Telegraph)<\/p><div id=\"antig-2807067732\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">P<\/span>eople who lost everything in Hurricane Irma in Barbuda are now gearing up for another fight,\u00a0attempting to block a governmental reform that they say will force them off their land just as they prepare to rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n<p>John Mussington lost his home, and his school,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2017\/09\/07\/hurricane-irma-13-killed-caribbean-florida-prepares-storm\/\">when Hurricane Irma hit.<\/a>\u00a0Buildings were flattened, trees uprooted, and the lush tropical landscape turned into a barren wasteland.<\/p><div id=\"antig-3627082163\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-985863230\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p data-mediaconductor-processed=\"true\">Yet Mr Mussington, the principal of the only secondary establishment on the island, was philosophical. The 1,800 residents of Barbuda had been evacuated to neighbouring Antigua, and after the September 6 storm he expected at the time to simply return and rebuild.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2010986226\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ReggaeInTheParkAntigua\" aria-label=\"lucanio\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText version-2 section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component version-2\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p>Now, however, three months later, his situation has taken a dramatic turn for the worse &#8211; and he is<a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/destinations\/caribbean\/antigua-and-barbuda\/articles\/barbuda-where-is-it-what-is-it\/\">\u00a0fighting not to lose the very island itself.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur worst fears have been realised,\u201d he told The Telegraph. \u201cThe powers that be want us off our land.\u201d<\/p><div id=\"antig-1403324046\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500 (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Mr Mussington, 56, is<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/barbudasilentnomore\/\">\u00a0ready for a fight.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>On December 20 he and his fellow islanders went to the high court of Antigua and Barbuda to attempt to see off the reform.<\/p><div id=\"antig-473262619\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"CM key_WEB 1300x300_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1301w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:69\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:237\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:178\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1301\" height=\"301\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>They have enlisted the help of Leslie Thomas QC, the London-based barrister who represented 11 of the 96 families of Hillsborough Stadium victims, as well as the family of Mark Duggan.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2648121605\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">M<\/span>r Thomas argued that the repeal of the 2007 Barbudan land reform act is being carried out without proper consultation of the islanders themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">G<\/span>aston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, argues in turn that the land reform will empower the islanders.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Mussington and Mr Thomas beg to differ.<\/p>\n<p>The land on Barbuda, a tiny Caribbean outpost, has been communally owned for generations. The law originates from an unofficial tenure system, established following the islanders\u2019 emancipation from slavery, whereby land acquired would be handed down to descendants and bush land would be held in commonage.<\/p>\n<p>When Barbuda gained its independence from Britain in 1981, the custom survived, and was enshrined in the 2007 land act. That law prevented the purchase of land by outsiders \u2013 you needed to have had a Barbudan grandmother to be able to buy land \u2013 and thus prevented the arrival of foreign-run hotels, casinos, restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n<p>As a result Barbuda, an idyllic spot loved by Diana, princess of Wales, and where she holidayed with William and Harry in April 1997, four months before her death, retained its sleepy beauty.<\/p>\n<p>That all changed on the night of the storm. And yet the islanders, safe on Antigua, intended to go back and start again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">M<\/span>r Browne, however, had other plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">O<\/span>n September 11 he announced that he wants to reform the law so that communal land be turned into freehold territory, to be bought and sold. He also wants to change the definition of a Barbudan, so that anyone who can claim \u201cresidency\u201d can buy and sell land \u2013 a vague and easily exploitable loophole, the islanders argue.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Browne told parliament that Barbudans \u2013 of whom<a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/hurricane-irma\/\">\u00a0only around 360 have returned so far<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; had been \u201crelegated to squatters\u201d, after indicating that they were never in possession of any documents indicating that they owned the lands where they had built homes, opened businesses and other activities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBarbuda can\u2019t progress until the present land tenure is settled,\u201d he said, adding that no country can move forward without having a proper rights system.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a time to put aside the politics and look at issues based on merit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you give a Barbudan freehold, first of all those who have their properties that are damaged, they can go into the bank, they can borrow money, they can repair their properties, they can get a mortgage they can build. They can get a loan for student purposes, to businesses. It is a form of empowerment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body-text component version-2\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p>\u201cI want to tell you, the Barbudans I have spoken to, they are absolutely elated over it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter\">B<\/span>ut Mr Mussington is outraged. He denies there has been any consultation, saying they only learnt of the proposal when it was leaked to the press, and sees it as merely a ploy to force them off their land.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">W<\/span>ayde Burton, a councillor for Barbuda, lost the roof of his home, his household items, and fishing boat. But, he told The Telegraph, he is one of the few to have moved back, and is trying to rebuild.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can&#8217;t say why Gaston Browne is doing what he is doing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>But he added that the government had been trying for years to get their hands on Barbuda\u2019s undeveloped land.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I can say is that what is happening is common when ALP is the ruling party.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost of Barbuda is farm and grazing lands, and then you have swamp areas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo the best of my knowledge, no one was consulted about the reforms to the land act being proposed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr Mussington added: \u201cToday we are seeing the real reason for that forced evacuation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The island remains without water, electricity or schools, and the hospital is only partially operative. He believes it is a deliberate shutdown to keep the islanders from going home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p>\u201cNothing is available on the ground to allow Barbudans to return,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the meantime, land is being cleared. It is claimed it is for some sort of airport.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut all of that is a plot to begin selling land on Barbuda. The idea is to turn this into a private island, for people to make millions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter\">M<\/span>r Burton, the councillor, added: \u201cI oppose the land reforms strongly. \u00a0Land is a very valuable resource, more so when the land you live on has so very little to offer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is typical for politicians to enrich themselves at the cost of the people they should be serving. Now that virgin land is scarce in Antigua, those that are in Barbuda look ripe for the taking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parliament had its first reading of The Barbuda Land Amendment Bill of 2017 on December 12. While it was heard, several members of two opposition parties protested outside of parliament.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Browne, presenting the bill, attempted to assuage fears, saying: \u201cIf you want to continue to live communally without title, that is fine. They can continue to exercise that option, but we are saying here that an additional option will be given to them so that if they so desire, they will have freehold ownership of land in Barbuda.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBodyText section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-text component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter m_first-letter--flagged\">H<\/span>e added, in another bid for reassurance: \u201cAll investors who come to the country &#8211; if they want to invest in Barbuda, land will continue to be given on a lease-own basis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Three readings are necessary, but Mr Mussington fears it could be rushed through in a day when parliament returns from its Christmas break on December 28.<\/p>\n<p>And he is hoping that Mr Thomas\u2019s appeals to the judge, currently in deliberation, will result in an injunction, blocking the reform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a classic land grab,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cBarbudans will not sit idly by to allow the government to steal our land, our heritage, our way of life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are not dead. We are still here. And we will resist.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div id=\"antig-3505733882\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Telegraph) People who lost everything in Hurricane Irma in Barbuda are now gearing up for another fight,\u00a0attempting to block a governmental reform that they say will force them off their land just as they prepare to rebuild their lives. John Mussington lost his home, and his school,\u00a0when Hurricane Irma hit.\u00a0Buildings were flattened, trees uprooted, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-2","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Barbudans claim of &#039;land grab&#039; as government attempts to reform laws on hurricane-devastated island - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/barbudans-claim-of-land-grab-as-government-attempts-to-reform-laws-on-hurricane-devastated-island\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Barbudans claim of &#039;land grab&#039; as government attempts to reform laws on hurricane-devastated island\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Telegraph) People who lost everything in Hurricane Irma in Barbuda are now gearing up for another fight,\u00a0attempting to block a governmental reform that they say will force them off their land just as they prepare to rebuild their lives. 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