(Antigua Observer) In about fourteen days, a final ruling will be made in the prolonged legal battle over land in Barbuda, and MP for the area Trevor Walker, believes that the stakes have never been higher as they are now for the Barbudan people.
The Barbuda Council continues the fight to maintain communal land rights on the sister isle, while the central government continues its push to end the practice.
The matter has been before the courts for some time and will come before the country’s final appellate court on May 3, and Walker is adamant that a ruling in their favor will finally give Barbudans full control over their territory.
“When we win this case, the central government will have to pay us all those monies that they collected on our behalf. All those who are on our island, who are here illegally or on terms that are not legal will have to come to the table. Nobody will be able to dictate to us as to what happens in Barbuda. They cannot send over people to do land registry without our consent. That is what is at stake. We will be able, or we would be in a position to determine what happens to Barbuda going forward when this case is adjudicated and we win this case,” Walker said.
