Codrington, Barbuda – “History will remember,” one protester hurled at a group of heavily armed police officers sent by the government to guard clearing work at Katel Hill where the proposed Wa’omoni Cottages housing project is to be constructed.

Others called on the officers to “call their boss” to inform them why he had felt the need to station the armed guards to prevent farmers and others from entering an area where they had long used uninterrupted.

Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, who joined the protest, issued a stern warning to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, vowing to defend Barbuda’s communal land system.
“Nobody’s going to come and take it away from us,” Walker said. “We are going to stand up as long as it takes to make sure that we don’t disenfranchise our people. So Gaston Browne, our land is not for sale. People have lands up there that they want to go to do their farming. What’s the problem?”

John Mussington, Chairperson of the Barbuda Council’s Agriculture, Lands, and Coastal Protection Committee, accused the government of using Hurricane Irma’s devastation in 2017 as a pretext to seize control of Barbuda’s lands. “The game plan was to take Barbuda. Now we are seeing the reality of it. Things are melting down. The million dollar sales are not happening so the head of this administration needs to send a message to the world that he controls our land. That is not the case. We are not relinquishing control of our land.”

Mussington also urged Barbudans to participate in the upcoming Barbuda Council elections in March, emphasizing its critical role in preserving their land rights. “Barbudans, those of you who are in any doubt…see the reality in front of you,” Mussington declared. “This land matters. The Barbuda Council matters. The only thing standing between that greedy pirate and us is the Barbuda Local Government Act and the Barbuda Council.”

The United Progressive Party (UPP) joined the calls for the removal of the Riot Squad from Barbuda, criticizing the government’s handling of the situation.
“Prime Minister Gaston Browne has shown he has no respect and no consideration for either the Barbuda Council or the Barbudans,” UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle said. “Rather, he prefers the threat of force against the people he has left to fend for themselves after a terrible hurricane.”

The UPP also condemned the government for violating the Barbuda Land Act of 2007, which vests land ownership in the people of Barbuda. “We are calling for common sense and common decency to prevail. State-sponsored violence against the Barbudans is as wrong as it was when unleashed against the Antiguans on August 8, 2021,” Pringle said.

The deployment of the Riot Squad was also condemned by Devon Warner, Chairman of the Barbuda Council who called for the resignation of the prime minister.

Despite the heated opposition, Prime Minister Gaston Browne reaffirmed his government’s commitment to development on Barbuda. He defended the deployment of Riot Squad officers, claiming their role was solely to maintain law and order.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has reaffirmed his government’s respect for peaceful protests but warned against efforts to block critical development on Barbuda. “We’re taking them straight to court,” Browne remarked. “ We have said to them that their role is to maintain law and order. We didn’t send any law enforcement officer over there to shoot, to kill.”

Attorney General and Public Safety Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin says the government will continue clearing the land over the next two weeks.  “The entire cabinet is completely behind the Prime Minister. We will not be moved in this matter. We shall not relent,” he insisted.

“The laws of the land must be complied with. And me, Prime Minister, and my colleagues, I can tell you, we are in this thing to the end. We want development for both Antigua and Barbuda. We don’t want Barbuda to be left behind anymore.”

As the clearing work continues, protesters have vowed to remain steadfast in their opposition, chanting, “No retreat, no surrender.” For Barbudans, the battle over Katel Hill represents not just a fight for land but a struggle to preserve their traditions and autonomy.