The already tense relationship between the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM)-led Council and the Central Government remains at an impasse, despite a decisive victory for the BPM in last Wednesday’s Barbuda Council election. 

The outcome has reignited longstanding disputes over land rights and governance between the two parties, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne reiterating the government’s position on resolving the land issue, suggesting the potential for a referendum to dissolve the current Barbuda Council.“If this continues, we will put the issue to a referendum, you know, let Antiguans decide to dismantle a Council,” he remarked on Pointe FM Saturday. 

A referendum would be needed to dismantle the Barbuda Council since the council is enshrined in law under the Barbuda Local Government Act (1976), which grants it autonomy in managing Barbuda’s affairs, including land use, financial matters, and local governance. Since this law was established through parliamentary approval, any attempt to dissolve or significantly alter the council’s powers would likely require a constitutional or legislative amendment.

While the Prime Minister acknowledged the BPM’s electoral success, he pointed to the unresolved land issue as a primary factor in the Council’s continued political dominance. He claimed that the BPM has capitalized on misinformation about land ownership, spreading a narrative that the government has been “stealing” Barbuda’s land. 

Browne reaffirmed that the government’s position is to resolve the land dispute by selling land to both Antiguans and Barbudans, with Barbuda’s residents benefiting from a symbolic $1 price. He argued that the policy is a form of affirmative action, aimed at addressing decades of neglect by the central government.

“That matter will be settled, I would say, by the time we probably go into general elections and perhaps before the next set of council elections.  From June of this year, we will start to sell land in Barbuda to both Antiguan and Barbudans,” Browne said. “Until we settle the land issue for once and for all, it’s going to be difficult for the Labour Party to win a council seat.”

However, the announcement of land sales is unlikely to quell the frustrations of the BPM, which has consistently opposed the government’s approach. A day after the election, BPM Chairman John Mussington reiterated the party’s commitment to preserving Barbuda’s autonomy, accusing the central government of undermining the island’s local governance.

“There’s no relationship between the Barbuda Council and the government. Their policies are unilateral, and they have shown no respect for the people of Barbuda or the Barbuda Local Government Act,” Mussington said. He added that the government’s heavy-handed tactics, including the controversial deployment of riot police to secure land at Katel Hill for development, have only deepened the rift.

Despite these tensions, Browne remains resolute, stating that the government is committed to progressing with its development plans for Barbuda, including a new port facility to accommodate the island’s growing tourism sector. 

In response to the election results, Lionel Hurst, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, acknowledged the deep political divide between the BPM and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP). He criticized the BPM and argued that their opposition to key government projects has hindered economic opportunities for Barbudans. “Instead of working for the benefit of Barbuda, the BPM has been focused on derailing projects that would improve the lives of its people,” Hurst said.

The BPM, however, remains firm in its opposition to government plans, with Mussington reiterating that the Council will continue to use the courts and the electoral process to assert its legal rights. 

Election observers, including Elouise Roberts, Chair of the Free & Fair Election League, confirmed that the election was conducted fairly and without incident. While voter turnout decreased slightly—from 64% in 2021 to 58.36% in 2025—the BPM maintained a commanding lead throughout the process.