There is a tense stand-off between police officers and protesting Barbudans over the use of the fisheries complex which houses national security forces.
18 police officers from Antigua descended on Barbuda early today in a show of force while requesting the keys for the Barbuda Fisheries Complex from the Barbuda Council.
The Barbuda Council wants the police officers and soldiers removed from the Japan-funded building to make way for the opening of the Lobster season.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne said yesterday that the council turned off the electricity and water to force the law enforcement officials out.
Since that revelation, Browne says the commissioner of police ordered more police officers to the sister isle to take control of the building.
The Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker and the council are refusing the hand over the keys.
That decision led to a major standoff, but not a violent one.
“Under no circumstances that I’m gonna allow the keys to turnover to the police.”
Walker also said that they are expecting, “Reinforcements from the police in addition to some hierarchy from the police… I think the commissioner [Atlee Rodney] is coming as well.”
“I’ve also said to the people that the instruction is that if they don’t get the keys by tomorrow, they are going to basically lock down the complex. And we cannot stop them from doing so based on the fact they are probably have a lot of additional officers there tomorrow.”
“Fishermen are not Labour Party or BPM supporters. They are fishermen. So, if you’re going to touch their livelihood, you’re going to touch their lives and that of their families.”
Speaking on radio yesterday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said he does not want any fights with the Barbudans just the opportunity to build the island.
He said, however, that he won’t tolerate lawlessness and illegality.
Browne said the fisheries complex belongs to the government of Antigua and Barbuda and the keys must be handed over.
“Now that asset is a government asset, it was not given to the Barbuda Council. It was given to the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda. In fact, it was my government who negotiated that facility.”
“The council members are now getting into lawlessness,” he said.
The prime minister denies instructing the commissioner of police to send more officers to Barbuda as alleged.
“Gaston did not ask the commissioner to send any additional police officers to Barbuda because I understand that members of The Movement are spreading that propaganda.”
“The commissioner, on his own volition, has decided to send additional police officers to Barbuda.”
Trevor Walker remains strident, however, indicating that one police officer asked him whether or not he saw a letter from the Cabinet making formal request for the keys to the fisheries building.
“Obviously, it is instructions that the police got.”
As for the possible motive behind the alleged Cabinet request and further order for control of the complex, Walker said that the Prime Minister, “Is trying to paint a picture to the world that the Barbuda Council cannot function.”
Walker went onto indicate that, “The police obviously don’t know the law.”
He pointed that the area of fisheries falls under the Barbuda Local Government act enshrined in the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda and that central government, “Cannot give directions in that area.”
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It is about time the Barbudans stand up for their rights. The government of Antigua have been, and still is taking advantage of that island . Barbudans need and must stick together in order to accomplish their agenda.
Brown the Prime minister of Antigua needs to give an account of the finances that were allocated to Barbuda to assist with the rebuilding of that Island during and after the last hurricane.
Gaston needs to get his head examined. The fisheries building is essential for Barbuda to get back on its feet. Get those useless policemen and defense force personnel back to Antigua where they can do what they were trained to do. In Barbuda they just sit around getting fat. Let the council do their job and stop being an obstacle to the recovery.
Of all the stupid comment I have seen some of you trolls post on this site this one takes the cake. I know in Antigua we say srupid shit but seriously this comment is down right retarded. Stupid trolls.
You are an ass if you don’t know that public money is supporting Barbudans.
Some barbudanare so ungrateful.just want hands out. Trevor u are such a crupt twisted ,badminded ungrateful. Slime. U need to do the right thing. u done rich so u don’t care. Everything the government try to do u opposed.
am trying to understand the need for such a stand off.. am guessing the initial reason for the police and army personnel in Barbuda was to ensure some kind of security for persons property and personal items who were not on the island at the time, and those still not there…i would think it wise that such security remain until the country is in a state similar to before the storm. and why the insults towards the police?if they were not there and something went wrong whats the first thing people would want to say? that the government didnt see it fit to provide security right? if it is that the fishermen are ready to apply their trade and are in genuine need to use the fishing complex, was this properly communicated to the persons in authority? and would the presence of the police prevent the locals from applying their trade? right now it seems like everything is argument between what Barbudans think they own that the government doesnt. grown people cant find a peaceful way to resolve simple conflicts? this stupid back and forth argument between our islands needs to stop. others outside are looking on at our foolishness, lets hope we are spared this hurricane season cause some of us all of a sudden acting like we on some kinda high horse and all it takes is a simple act of nature to push our faces right into the dirt.
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