In a Wednesday Cabinet session focused on land governance in Barbuda, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has doubled down on its commitment to upholding the island’s land regulations, issuing a fresh, explicit warning that unapproved, unauthorized construction across Barbuda faces imminent legal enforcement, including demolition. The announcement came as Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin updated lawmakers on ongoing progress toward launching the long-awaited formal Barbuda Land Registry, a cornerstone policy initiative designed to overhaul the island’s fragmented land administration system.
Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications, outlined the body’s unified stance following the meeting: all structures built without the full suite of legally required permits, approvals, and authorizations are officially classified as illegal. Under the government’s newly tightened enforcement framework, authorities will not hesitate to carry out all permitted legal actions, including the full demolition and removal of these unlawful developments, in strict alignment with national land laws.
This public warning is not an isolated measure, but part of a broader government push to bring order to land ownership and development activity across Barbuda, concurrent with the rollout of the new registry system. During the session, Cabinet also reaffirmed a long-held legal position that the Barbuda Council holds no statutory authority to sell, lease, or transfer any land on the island – any transactions conducted outside of government-approved processes will be considered void and unrecognized by the national administration.
Merchant noted that Cabinet has growing concerns over the proliferation of unreported land transactions and unregulated development that operate outside of the state’s formal legal framework. The administration is fully committed to halting the spread of illegal construction, he stressed, and warned that any individual or entity moving forward with construction without securing proper authorization does so at their own legal and financial risk.
In a move designed to balance strict enforcement with protections for long-term residents, officials moved quickly to reassure Barbuda residents who have occupied land on the island for extended periods that they will not be penalized for past informal arrangements. Under the government’s upcoming land registration program, these residents will be given a clear pathway to formalize their land claims and obtain legal ownership documents. This includes the administration’s flagship $1 land ownership initiative, which offers eligible native Barbudans the chance to secure formal title for a nominal fee.
Cabinet emphasized that the completion of the Barbuda Land Registry will deliver far-reaching public benefits, bringing unprecedented certainty, transparency, and legal security to all matters related to land ownership and development across the island. The formal system will also ensure that all future infrastructure, residential, and commercial projects proceed in full compliance with the national laws of Antigua and Barbuda, laying the groundwork for sustainable, orderly growth on the island.