Barbudans Fight for Justice: Global Legal Network Raises Funds to Defend Land Rights in Landmark Privy Council Case

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REAL NEWS: Barbudans continue to raise funds to fight their various legal challenges through an initiative operated by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN).

Barbuda Councilman John Mussington reports that some £15,000 have been raised, to date, some of which will be used later this year to defend a case at the Privy Council.

GLAN is an international organization of lawyers who essentially provide their expertise, across the globe, to people and communities that are challenged by more financially endowed persons and organizations.

Since 2017-2018, when Hurricane Irma devastated the island and the Browne Administration attempted to change the legislation governing land ownership, and when, finally, the law was repealed, Barbudans have been mounting legal challenges in defense of their positions.

In November this year, Mussington says, there will be a hearing at the Privy Council to deal with the challenge to the airstrip on Barbuda, and this will be handled by GLAN.

Accordingly, the fund-raising initiative, which has been going on for about five years, will be the means by which the Barbudans are able to retain legal counsel to defend their rights.

Mussington says that a few lawyers from GLAN were recently on Barbuda to get a firsthand look at the situation on the sister-island.

He reports that, two Fridays ago, a village meeting was also held.  During this, the lawyers sought feedback from the Barbudans on what has been taking place over the years and more recently.

The legal luminaries also provided the islanders with information that brought home, in a very stark manner, the extent of the threat to take the coastline from the people.

Musington says it appears that the political authorities want to restrict the Barbudans to a reservation-type of living in the village.

The councilman says that, more and more on Barbuda, those with financial resources are being accorded preferential treatment and given the right to do just about anything.

In the meantime, persons who wish to make a donation to the fund may search online for GLAN. They will be directed to the website, where they can receive details on the crowd-funding mechanism; obtain information on Barbuda; or access numerous articles.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Continue to fight my brothers. Don’t let these hungry belly people come and destroy your island. Barbuda for Barbudans.

  2. Glan is crowd sourcing for a legal fund on behalf of Barbudans with more 35,000 Barbudan adults in the diaspora.
    If Barbudans especially those in the diaspora are as serious about their land as thy claim to be.
    A contribution to the fund-raising efforts by an international reputable organization is a call to action.
    This money is to be used for attorneys who has the wherewithal as legal advocates.
    Twenty-five Thousand adults in the diaspora contributing $5.00 USD per month will end this fight and land grab very quickly.
    NOW IS YOUR TIME BARBUDANS!
    TO DEMONSTRATE: ITS NOT JUST ABOUT TALKING; ITS ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE FIGHT TO SAVE YOUTR LAND.

  3. BARBUDANS:
    Here is your chance to: STOP THE STEAL! STOP THE STEAL! This is your chance to STEP UP! and contribute: to STOP THE STEAL!
    Make commitment for $5.00 per month.
    I’m not from Barbuda. My people are from Hermitage and Bethesda.
    Don’t allow the same person who pushed the local folks off the beach at Jolly Habour to do the same to you.
    He walked the land in Barbuda with Gaston 3 weeks ago. STOP THE STEAL! NOW!

  4. And to the local Barbudans, save some of that Carifta beer money and contribute it to the Glan Fundraiser.
    To my fellow Antiguans who express sympathy with the Barbudans, please STEP UP!
    Additional funds are also necessary to make the case in the international arena. Remember Gaston has his guy in Washington playing interference. This is a multi-prang fight.

  5. My experience with Barbudans is very simple: Don’t disrespect them: Don’t exploit them: and don’t destroy their environment. They are not for sale, partner with them to maintain their traditions. They still fish and dive for lobster wilks and cockles.
    They still get a deer here and there. They have ducks and have ginny fools. Most of their living is in the water or at the water’s edge; don’t deny them their traditions.
    There are other outside forces they cannot control; like the plastics that float up at Two-foot Bay. Many of it from the cruise ships, as they make their way to the St. Johns Port

    • @Winston Southwell.
      You have a habit of hitting the nail on the head. You speak pure and simple common.sense. I speak to Barbudans as an Antiguan who has never been to Barbuda but who applauds your stance on preserving your heritage. We in Antigua have very little left of the beaches we once enjoyed. Our environment has been laid bare in the name of ‘development’. I beseech you to fight with all your strength and might to resist the grasping intentions of those who want to schemingly want to disposess you of your birthright in order to fill their pockets. Be alert, be vigilant. I wish you well.

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