By Elesha George
Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua Observer) – Barbuda’s MP Trevor Walker has pledged to fight against a recently passed bill that removes communal land ownership rights from Barbudans.
The bill, which was approved by a majority of MPs on Friday, aims to incorporate Barbuda into the country’s Registered Land Act, officially discarding the island’s centuries-old practice of communal land ownership.
The latter refers to the shared ownership of land that meant each member of the community had the right to use such property or a portion of. Under the new registry system, Barbudans will be able to purchase the lands they currently occupy at a peppercorn price of EC$1.
In his address to parliament during the debate, Walker stated, “When the government change, not if, we will reverse these things.”
He added, “I say this to you, the avalanche will start in St Mary’s South when you all lose that by-election, and when the UPP returns to power I can tell the nation of Antigua and Barbuda, all these injustices that you’ve done to Barbuda will be reversed.”
