‘The Land Issue Will Settle the Vote’: PM Predicts Political Shift in Barbuda
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stated that the longstanding land issue in Barbuda remains the central obstacle to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) gaining political ground on the island.
“I said to my colleagues, you know, until we settle the land issue for once and for all, it’s going to be difficult for the Labour Party to win a seat, a council seat, and even the seat over there.”
Browne explained that the Barbudans’ resistance to the ABLP has been fuelled by misinformation.
“That is a lie that the BPM continues to peddle—that we have stolen the Barbuda land. But that matter will be settled, I would say, by the time we probably go into general elections.”
He announced plans to begin land sales on the island later this year.
“From June of this year, we’ll start to sell land in Barbuda to both Antiguans and Barbudans.”
Under the proposed arrangement, Barbudans will receive a heavily subsidised rate.
“When we don’t sell the Barbudans and move the land, the Barbudans will get it for $1, right? And Antiguans will pay market value. That in itself is discriminatory. But my position is, look, Barbudans have been left behind for decades. Give them a little leg up. You know, it’s a form of affirmative action.”
Browne predicted that the issuance of land titles would directly shift the political dynamic.
“When we don’t sell people the land, you think Trevor and the other council members, Devon Warner and so on, can go trespassing the land? In fact, people will probably put locks on them. And that’s what’s going to settle it.”
He maintained that the entire island’s land is under the Crown’s ownership.
“All the land in Barbuda belongs to the crown. All. Even the land where Trevor Walker lives on—he must have about five acres fenced. It’s not Trevor Walker’s land. It’s government land. And it is such time as he pays for it, he has no ownership.”
Browne rejected the idea of limiting land sales to Barbudans alone.
“There are some who may feel that we should only be selling freehold to Barbudans, but that would be discriminatory. We cannot take a policy in which we exclude Antiguans from the sale of a government asset.”
The Prime Minister suggested that once Antiguans begin purchasing land, political attitudes among Barbudans will shift.
“Half of them Barbudans who are BPM members who are protesting and so on—when the Labour Party people and other Antiguans start buying land and get a title… you think they’re going to sit back and not take theirs? Never do them, you know.”
Browne concluded with a confident prediction of change.
“Just give us a few more months for us to start to sell the land, and that matter will be settled… It’s a matter of time.”
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ABLP, Gaston’s propaganda machine and the bribe cart full of ham and turkey, ain’t enough to buy the souls, hearts, spirits of Barbuda.
Lies and Lawfare campaign against Barbudans will not stop Barbudans.
Barbuda us not the Alpha Nero.
Barbuda s will win at the ballot box.
Antiguans need to stop letting other read and interpret for them.
It’s says Barbuda Lands are in trust with Crown as Communal lands.
It says The CROWN is a Trustee for Barbudan lands which are communal lands.
Antigua s knows only what they are told.
The document is available in the Internet. Read it in it’s entirety.
Is Trevor Walker The Snake and Sellout working with Gaston on this one too?
Gaston might be in for the shock of his life, he might even lose by a bigger margin, you think Barbudans beggy, beggy like the Lickspittle Brigade in Antigua