After securing a landmark legal victory that protects collective land ownership on the Caribbean island of Barbuda, local governing body the Barbuda Council has launched a widespread outreach effort, urging both on-island residents and Barbudans living in the global diaspora to contribute to a new community survey.
The court ruling, announced last week in collaboration with the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), reaffirmed a long-standing core principle of Barbudan society: that land on the island cannot be privately sold. In an official public statement released online alongside GLAN, the Council framed the ruling as nothing short of a turning point for the island community. ‘Last week marked an important moment for Barbuda,’ the statement read, emphasizing that the outcome was a testament to collective action. The win serves as a powerful reminder of what marginalized island communities can accomplish when they unify around shared priorities, the Council added.
Moving past the legal victory, the Council is now turning its focus to long-term community-led planning, turning to the island’s people to map out the most pressing social and economic priorities for the future. The 2026 Barbuda Council Survey is designed to capture direct feedback from all segments of the Barbudan population, whether they currently reside on the island or live abroad. By participating, community members will directly shape how local leaders approach development, infrastructure, public services, and governance decisions for years to come.
‘Wider participation will strengthen the voice of the Barbudan community in discussions surrounding development and governance,’ the statement explained. For decades, outside development proposals have threatened the island’s collective land model, so centering community input is seen as a critical step to ensuring any future progress aligns with the needs and values of Barbudan people themselves. The Council has called on respondents to not only complete the survey themselves but also share the official link with other members of the diaspora to ensure broad representation.
Closing the statement, the Council reiterated its commitment to community self-determination, noting: ‘The future of Barbuda must be shaped by Barbudans.’