Dear Editor,
Maiden Island, once a beloved refuge for local campers, nature enthusiasts, and beachgoers, has fallen prey to the insidious grasp of modern-day colonization.
For nearly a century, this uninhabited gem off Antigua’s coast offered serenity, adventure, and community—a space where Antiguans could connect with nature, explore, and play. Now, it has been transformed into yet another playground for the wealthy elite.
The recent takeover of Maiden Island by Jumby Bay Island owners, under the guise of “development,” is a stark reminder of how the interests of a privileged few continue to eclipse the rights and heritage of the majority.
A cherished local treasure, enjoyed freely for generations, has been converted into a restaurant accessible only to those who can afford the exorbitant luxury. Antiguans, who have long regarded the island as part of their cultural and natural heritage, are now barred from setting foot on its shores.
This is not progress—it is plunder.
For decades, Antigua’s shores have seen a parade of white elites arriving with promises of “investment” and “job creation.” What these deals deliver, however, is little more than a modern plantation system, dressed in the language of economic development. These enterprises—financed on the backs of local taxpayers—bring concessions and privileges that ordinary Antiguans could only dream of. While these elites rake in profits and ship them overseas, we are left with low-paying, servitude-like jobs.
Our leaders enable this cycle by selling out our heritage under the illusion of foreign capital being synonymous with progress. What they fail to understand—or perhaps choose to ignore—is that true development prioritizes local ownership, empowerment, and sustainability.
Instead, they pave the way for the continued exploitation of our land, labor, and legacy by outsiders who care nothing for our future.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: When will enough be enough? When will we stop ceding our birthright—our land, our resources, and our culture—in exchange for breadcrumbs?
Maiden Island is but one example of the broader issue plaguing Antigua and Barbuda. Across our twin islands, spaces that once belonged to the people are being stolen, repackaged, and sold back to us at a price we cannot afford.
This is not development; it is a form of economic and cultural enslavement.
Antiguans must demand better.
We must push for policies that prioritize local ownership and reject developments that exclude us from accessing our own heritage. Leaders who allow the unchecked rise of these modern-day plantations must be held accountable for their complicity in the exploitation of our people.
The time to act is now. If we continue to stand by silently as Maiden Island is stripped from our hands, we send a message that our heritage is for sale to the highest bidder. We deserve more than servitude. We deserve sovereignty, dignity, and a future that belongs to us all.
Let Maiden Island be the wake-up call Antigua so desperately needs.
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When sugar was king they came and they controlled all tje arable lands as they stole our labor through enslavement and colonialism. We had to buy those land back. Now that the tourists and leisure industry is our main stay, we five them our pristine water front lands for practically nothing in exchange for menial jobs. One would have thought that we would be more conscious of our need to localize our critical socio economic development efforts instead of giving on a sweet platter to others. Maiden Island is just another sad chapter. I was told that the entire management staff for this restaurant are fresh arrivals from the United Kingdom. We are retrogressing.
This crap only happens under Labour party administrations kick backs must be taking place how can people who are supposed to be sensible keep on doing such f**k
so between 2004-2014 there was no Maiden Island?
Are the owners of the restaurant preventing anyone from going to the island and picnicking when they want to? It will be interesting to find out. For the individuals who feel that the monied class are taking over spaces that they are accustomed to be, writing an article in a newspaper complaining may not be a solution.
Tell us good writer, what do you recommend we Antiguans do to regain our lost land and beaches? I am so tired of talk and no action. I will gladly join the fight. Tell us how and where to start. It’s up to us, the people. The ones in leadership are all about enriching themselves. There are some very wealthy foreigners flooding our shores who understand how easy it is to get whatever they want in Antigua. Money talks here…… Maiden Island was the peoples island. Weekend camping and Sunday picnics. Very sad. Shame on the government
of Antigua and Barbuda.
Jumby Bay did not invade Maiden Island and conquer it. Maiden Island was sold to Jumby Bay. How much was paid for it and where is the money paid? Who knows?
We need to stop being naïve and thinking it was a blunder made and wake up to the realization that the transaction, like so many others of a similar nature, was made by someone who does not give a f—t for this nation and who believes that when all is gone, he will just ride off in the sunset with those he loves and his many bank accounts secreted around the globe.
BORN ANTIGUAN all we have to do is get rid of shitty ALP every election they keep throwing around money and other gifts to get back into office to continue the plunder, it is my opinion that Harold did not lose by fair means. We the people have to stop accepting their handouts
And I am tired hearing complains from reactionaries, and no one can offer a different outcome regardless of political affiliation, because under the democratic Westminster politics, once I get elected, you become diametrically opposed to the people who elected you, becoming a coconut, brown outside and white inside, put it succinctly, you assimilate your colonial predecessor, and treat them once more like chattel slavery, like things to be used for the enrichment of white monopoly capital domination of our resources including human resources. The politics of the UPP and ALP are Centristic political ideology based on serving the elites and conservative atmosphere because none proclaim any other political science for example socialism or Marxism, the religion we so love given to us by our colonials ,the Latin word bible that we so believed fall from the sky somewhere with all that blue eye blond white god is instructive in our passiveness towards white people dominating us, just like how these white people robbed the Africans and indians and took their resources, so too they editorialize or plagerize historical documents compile into their book to control us into oblivion, creating this benign atmosphere about going across the sky, so our black people become apathetic towards owning lands, and we are superstitious so we don’t live far from each other, only the Rasta was insightful enough to do so, we got to free our selves from mental slavery, to control our destiny, only then we will get rid of merchant politicians who only serve white foreign interest.
…your gads will save your king!
…while, you keep praying to [him]!
…oh! What a thing!
…the People must realize!
…behind their disguise
…it’s a deck, stacked with lies
…so, you’ll keep getting played
…as, the crooked politicians
…run on you, the game of #charade
…from the severing, of your navel string!
…to #Dust_2_dust! #Ashes_2_Ashes’ over your grave!
There MUST be some way, to bring those responsible for these [negotiators] #WHO’RE doing the negotiations, on behalf of the People to be brought, subpoenaed before an investigative body.
I, know! I’m just saying! Yes, the Fox is Guarding the Hen House!
On another note, one of the main reasons for the importation of [foreign] labour, not only is it #cheaper on developers budget, it’s a way to control what happens to…
A…the local labour force! The [foreign] labour force are not aware, nor do they care for the most part about the history and culture, of the Nation, outside of the sprinkling of Pan African, Quasi_Reparations and Rastafari MOVEMENTS which is like #wata_pan_pond_leaf (water on a ducks back)
B…the General Elections results. Due to a the fact, that our governing system, whether as the Ruling Arm, or the Opposition, these #CHARLATANS, birds of the same feather, brothers/sisters of the same Indoctrinated Orders, many call them CROOKS will not ROCK THE BOAT, cause a mutiny to really and truly serve the People.
The Serians, Lebanese and now the Chinese are pushing the locals out to drown them in Economic Hardship, while the Pinky Europeans , North Americans, and their #hybrid_offsprings are building their #BERLIN STYLE WALLS powered by an APARTHEID SYSTEM.
It’s the Rock and a Hardplace syndrome!
Anyways…
…ham and turkey ah cum!
…get u Cavalier Rum!
…drink and have fun!
…One Nation Fete! Soon reach!
…Dem youths, nah want no beach!
…just #hot_gyal; ah werk dem bitch! Beeeecch!
…while, #G’s ah bun dem spliff!
…hustlers ah mek money!
..,’cause, ain’t ah damn thing funny!
…otherwise, they’ll lose their head!
..since, they’re already close to the edge!
…ready to jump! Kamikaze! We’re already dead!
…
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’Ole Dutty Peg🦉Garrat_Bastard!
Vere C. Edwards
Replace the sugar cane and tobacco with hotels, resorts, and restaurants. And we’re back in colonization. And this time we only have ourselves to blame. I can’t imagine that we still can’t understand that they come to us, which means they want what we have, we have the upper hand to not deal our own selves out of the rewards. If they don’t like the terms they can leave it. We keep our commodity.
Eldread well said
You know the problem with us Antiguans is, when we are accustomed to squat and trespass on people’s property over many years we think it is normal to continue to do so. And when the property owner now claims his right we think it is unfair. But squatters have no right to land just so. And property right remains with the owner. Stanford was the owner and had plans to build his home on Maiden Islands. He spend millions creating a beach that was washed away during the hurricane. He brought live back in the eco system by placing reef balls which gave the fish protections from the fishermen who didn’t care about over fishing. And as I said barges of sand was transported from Barbuda. And when people still came there to picnic they left a heap of garbage for him to clean up. That you will not hear from the writer. Had Stanford not done all that work investing millions of dollars, we won’t have a Maiden Island as we see it today. The receiver have now sold the Island to Jumby Bay, who are now further developing this Island and of course the spinners are at work with the race card. Not looking at what Jumby Bay is creating in a positive light. Always laying the race card. Massa time has come back. That is such a low self-esteem that they want us to feel. Well sorry not me. I’m a proud black Antiguan. Don’t try that with me.
s
Come to English Harbour and see pre-apartheid South Africa. But no government was initially to blame. The indigenous Antiguans sold off or leased their properties for little and nothing to these people. Then the politicians and local officials were bought out. So when we talk about True and Nationalistic Antiguans, we are in short supply.
Look, what will be will be, but in the damn mean time, we must have people in place that in negotiating on behalf of the people, must.
Someone is at the table when these talks are going down, who?
We elect people to be at the table on our behalf, but they continue to fail us miserably
Yes politicians can’t do everything that we ask of them, but my goodness man, can we at least have honest competent people at the table negotiating on our behalf.
If not so, then why even vote or have bloody election?
There is direct things that can be done for the people of Antigua, it’s not rocket science.
Yes we came from a long way as black people and seemingly still doesn’t have a seat at the table, so what are these powerful people in office doing about it, are they not the ones who are paid to speak up?
@Ras.bro you are always on point with your assessments, but there has to be ways to get people like you and others of the same mindset speaking on behalf of the people, because as much as we talk and know the issues that’s face us as black people, we must have leaders and elders out there who speak on the people’s behalf.
So what should be done here brother?
yes and the local picky head staff get paid the bare minimum while the caucasians get all the big bucks such a pity.
@ANR Editor(#)…did a Musk worm ate my previous response to Islanman26. I know CLASSISM is alive and well, and thriving in Nation.
Did my response to @Islanman26 send shockwaves through one of your editors brains?
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’ole Dutty Peg🦉Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
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