Carib Scope

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  • Tancoo: Higher fines; no new taxes

    Tancoo: Higher fines; no new taxes

    In a landmark parliamentary vote that underscored deep political divides between the ruling administration and the main opposition bloc, Trinidad and Tobago’s Finance Bill 2026 has been passed into law after Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo firmly rejected opposition claims that the legislation would introduce new personal tax burdens for ordinary citizens. The final vote count delivered a lopsided result: 28 lawmakers supported the bill, no legislators voted against it, and all 13 opposition members from the People’s National Movement (PNM) chose to abstain from the final tally.

    During floor debate on the bill, Tancoo launched a sharp rebuke of the PNM Opposition, accusing the party of spreading deliberate misinformation to the public by claiming the 31-clause legislative package would bring new taxes for individual taxpayers. He dismissed these claims entirely, emphasizing that the bill is not a tax-raising measure but a comprehensive set of fiscal reforms designed to improve regulatory compliance, unlock private sector investment, and deliver on key campaign commitments made by the current UNC administration.

    While the bill includes no new personal income taxes, Tancoo confirmed that it does raise existing fines for tax and regulatory offenders to strengthen enforcement of fiscal laws. The only new fiscal structure introduced by the bill targets private companies operating drilling projects in marginal marine gas fields, requiring these firms to remit a set share of their production revenues to the national government. Beyond this energy-focused provision, Tancoo outlined that the legislation centers on four core priorities: delivering tangible tax relief for pensioners, expanding retirement benefits for frontline public safety officers, incentivizing charitable giving to national social causes, and boosting enforcement of existing tax regulations.

    Turning to the benefits for public safety workers, Tancoo explained that the bill addresses decades of unaddressed grievances from officers in the Police Service, Prison Service, and Fire Service. Many officers have long complained that they served in higher-ranking positions for extended periods leading up to their mandatory retirement, but never received the enhanced pension and retirement benefits tied to those roles. The new legislation fixes this gap: any officer who served continuously in an acting higher position for between one and three years before retirement will now have their pensions, gratuities, and other retirement allowances calculated as if they were formally appointed to that higher rank permanently.

    One of the most significant personal tax concessions included in the bill comes via an amendment to the Income Tax Act, contained in Clause 21(a). Starting January 1, 2026, all income earned from approved deferred annuity plans and approved pension fund plans will be fully exempt from income tax. To qualify for the exemption, deferred annuity policies must be purchased by a legal resident of Trinidad and Tobago and mature when the holder is between 50 and 70 years of age, and the exemption applies equally to all qualifying plans approved before, on, or after the January 1, 2026 implementation date.

    To encourage greater charitable giving to national public interest initiatives, the bill amends three core pieces of legislation: the Exchequer and Audit Act, the Income Tax Act, and the Corporation Tax Act. Under the new rules, both individual taxpayers and registered companies that make contributions to government-established national-purpose funds will qualify for generous tax deductions. For individuals, the maximum deduction is capped at the lower of 20% of total annual income or TT$20,000, while for companies the cap is set at the lower of 15% of chargeable annual profits or TT$100,000. Tancoo specifically noted that these new incentives will directly support high-priority initiatives such as the national Women’s Health Fund, which works to address period poverty among women and girls across the country.

    In a key move to stimulate new investment in the country’s critical energy sector, the bill creates an official classification for “marginal marine gas fields” — defined as offshore shallow water gas reserves that have no more than 300 billion cubic feet of recoverable contingent resources, carry an internal rate of return below 15%, are scheduled to begin production after January 1, 2026, and receive formal certification from the Minister of Energy. To encourage development of these smaller, previously undeveloped reserves, the legislation sets a moderate 8% royalty on net natural gas produced from qualifying fields, and offers investors a 130% capital allowance on all qualifying project expenditure, which can be claimed in 20% annual installments over a five-year period. Tancoo used the opportunity to criticize the former PNM administration, calling its energy negotiators “amateurs” who wasted millions in public funds on international travel and entertainment while failing to secure major investment deals. He countered that under the current UNC government, Trinidad and Tobago has attracted significant new investment from global energy giants including ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and Perenco.

    The bill also brings long-sought reforms to the controversial Landlord Business Surcharge introduced by the current administration, replacing what Tancoo called the former PNM’s “imaginary” property tax system based on hypothetical rental income. The new legislation clarifies that the one-time TT$2,500 registration fee for the surcharge is applied per landlord, not per individual rental property, meaning landlords with multiple properties will only pay a single fee. Additionally, any amount a landlord pays in Landlord Business Surcharge can now be fully credited against their annual personal income tax liability, reducing overall tax burdens for small property owners.

    Following targeted consultations with domestic gaming operators, the government also made significant adjustments to the new gaming taxes rolled out in the 2026 national budget. The annual tax on non-roulette amusement games has been cut in half, from TT$25,000 to TT$12,500, while annual taxes on electronic roulette devices have been reduced from TT$200,000 to TT$120,000, bringing the rate in line with existing taxes on casino operations. To ease cash flow pressures for operators, the government has also scrapped the requirement to pay the full annual tax bill upfront, replacing it with equal quarterly installment payments. Any excess tax already paid by operators between April 1 and June 30, 2026, will be fully refunded. Finally, the bill raises the maximum number of amusement games permitted on certain licensed premises from 20 to 33, while imposing strict penalties — including a TT$25,000 fine, up to one year of imprisonment, and possible license revocation — for operators that exceed the legal limit.

  • Man seen on video firing gun killed by police

    Man seen on video firing gun killed by police

    A suspect who went viral on social media for openly brandishing and firing a gun in a state-owned Housing Development Corporation (HDC) residential neighborhood in San Fernando was killed in a gunfight with police on Wednesday.

    The incident unfolded after two separate clips of the man circulated widely across social platforms over the previous days. The first footage shows the unidentified man, known locally by the nickname ‘Manny’, walking along a public road in the Cypress Hills area of Union Hall, gripping what witnesses confirm was a silver semi-automatic handgun. The second, more alarming clip captures the same individual approaching a local apartment block, lifting his weapon skyward, and discharging a round into open air.

    Once the videos began spreading among local residents and social media users, immediate calls for urgent police intervention flooded in. Community members raised sharp alarms over public safety, noting that the armed man was moving freely through a crowded residential area, putting children, families and passersby at unnecessary risk. Many demanded that law enforcement act quickly to take the man into custody before a random firing incident turned deadly for an innocent bystander.

    Responding to the public outcry and official reports of the footage, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service launched a fast-track investigation into the incident. Alongside the viral video evidence, investigators also received separate tip-offs that the suspect had made direct death threats against a serving police officer in the region, and was linked to a string of recent break-ins and violent home invasions in the Cypress Hills neighborhood.

    By early Wednesday morning, law enforcement had positively identified the suspect and assembled an tactical unit to take him into custody. At approximately 11 a.m., the police team tracked Manny to Building 32 on Sullivan Extension, located within the Montgomery Circular development in Cypress Hills, where he was located and confronted.

    According to official police accounts, the encounter quickly escalated when the suspect opened fire on the responding officers, triggering an exchange of gunfire between the man and the police team. The suspect was struck by gunfire during the confrontation. He was immediately rushed by emergency services to the San Fernando General Hospital, the island’s main public medical facility in the southern region, where attending doctors pronounced him dead shortly after arrival.

    Local authorities have not yet released the suspect’s full identity, nor announced any formal timeline for an independent review of the shooting, which is standard protocol for law enforcement-involved fatalities.

  • I was only calling on Jesus’ name

    I was only calling on Jesus’ name

    A violent home invasion that unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday has left a 72-year-old St Margaret’s, Claxton Bay resident and her 36-year-old daughter living in persistent fear, after two armed intruders broke into their family home, robbed them of valuables including the pensioner’s life savings, and left the pair bound and terrified for their lives.

    The harrowing incident began shortly after 2:30 a.m., when the two women, who were sleeping in separate beds in the same room, were jolted awake by the unknown intruders. Speaking publicly about the attack for the first time during a recent on-site interview, the elderly victim recalled the overwhelming terror of that moment: the first thing she felt was a heavy hand clamped over her mouth, followed by an immediate death threat if she made any attempt to scream for help. The intruders turned next to her daughter, threatening to kill the pensioner immediately if the younger woman refused to comply with their demands. Too afraid to resist, the daughter stayed silent, just as the attackers ordered.

    After securing the pair, the intruders used plastic tie-straps to bind both women’s hands to their bed frames, leaving them completely immobilized. Police investigations later confirmed the attackers had gained entry to the property by removing glass louvre panes from an external window, a calculated entry that suggests the robbery was pre-planned. Over the course of the attack, the intruders ransacked every room in the home, turning furniture and belongings upside down in their search for valuables. Among the items stolen were the pensioner’s pension payment held in an envelope, an additional sum of personal cash, multiple cellphones, and other unspecified personal belongings. Once they had stolen everything of value, the attackers fled the property through a front door, leaving the two bound women alone in the darkened home.

    In a stroke of luck that spared the pair from further harm, the daughter was eventually able to wriggle free of her restraints. She immediately untied her mother and contacted local police to report the attack. When responding officers arrived at the scene, they confirmed the intruders’ entry and exit routes, and launched a formal investigation into the robbery.

    When local media outlet the Express visited the ravaged home on Wednesday, four days after the attack, the elderly pensioner said she has not been able to shake the trauma of the experience. “I was only calling on Jesus’ name. I said, ‘Jesus, help me. This is the time I need you. Let them go with everything, but spare my life.’ And he did. It was terrible, was awful,” she shared, her account still marked by the shock of the violence. She noted that the intruders came prepared for the robbery, knowing exactly what they were coming for. “They came planned to do everything. They take my purse and envelope with my pension,” she said.

    Now, as the investigation continues under the lead of PC Duncan, the victim is calling for urgent action to hold the attackers accountable. She said she hopes law enforcement will prioritize the case, and that the courts will hand down strict penalties once the intruders are caught. “I feel they should be more serious with criminals. When they catch them, deal good with them,” she said, echoing a widespread call for tougher action against residential robberies in local communities.

  • St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force introduces digital combat uniforms

    St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force introduces digital combat uniforms

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – In a key step forward for the ongoing modernization of the Federation’s national military, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) formally introduced its new line of digital combat uniforms for all infantry, Coast Guard, and reserve units this week. The official launch, held June 10, 2026, was paired with a public route march that doubled as a commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the 1967 defense of Camp Springfield, a defining moment in the nation’s military history.

    Acting SKNDF Commander Major Kayode Sutton framed the introduction of the digitally-patterned uniforms as a substantial milestone in the force’s ongoing evolution. In comments delivered ahead of the march, Major Sutton emphasized that the new uniforms followed full legislative review and formal approval from the country’s policymakers, marking a transparent, institutional progression for the military.

    “It’s a very important day for us,” Major Sutton said. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to the defense of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and we will continue collaborating closely with our regional and domestic security partners to guarantee the Federation stays safe and secure for all citizens.”

    Led by Major Sutton, the formation of unarmed uniformed personnel departed from the historically significant Warner Park at the start of the march, navigating through downtown Basseterre along Victoria Road, Cayon Street, and Church Street before pausing at Government Headquarters. There, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, who also serves as the Federation’s Minister of National Security, delivered brief commemorative remarks and conducted a formal inspection of the marching troops.

    Following the stop at Government Headquarters, the contingent continued along Liverpool Row, Fort Street, and Central Street before progressing along Burdon Street, returning to Cayon Street, and moving up Springfield Road to their final destination at Camp Springfield, the site of the 1967 defensive action honored during the event.

    Looking ahead, Major Sutton confirmed that the rollout of the new uniforms is just one component of a broader, sustained modernization agenda for the SKNDF. Advanced, ongoing training for all personnel will remain a core priority of the force’s upgrade efforts as it adapts to evolving national security needs in the region.

  • CHTA President-Elect urges Review of CAL Decision to End Dominica Service

    CHTA President-Elect urges Review of CAL Decision to End Dominica Service

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Just weeks after Caribbean Airlines (CAL) officially ended its air services between Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis, the incoming president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is sounding the alarm over the move, pushing the airline and the Trinidad and Tobago government to reconsider the financially motivated decision.

    When announcing the route cuts earlier this year, government officials and airline leadership cited cumulative losses exceeding $2.3 million on the two discontinued services as the core justification for ending the routes, which formally ceased operations at the start of June 2026.

    In a recent interview with Caribbean Pulse News, Gregor Nassief, CHTA’s president-elect, made clear his deep disappointment with the call to cut the Dominica-Trinidad route, laying out the far-reaching harm the cancellation could bring to both regional connectivity and the Caribbean’s $50 billion tourism sector. He stressed that the small losses recorded on the route are insignificant when compared to underperforming routes CAL operates to other destinations, and that new air links require an extended runway period to grow into profitability.

    “I fear that the potential of this route was not given sufficient time. I really hope that CAL is able to re-look at that. As we talk about external shocks to the Caribbean, high airfares and rising prices, the Caribbean needs to look internally to itself as a domestic market for tourism, corporate travel, sports and entertainment,” Nassief said in the interview.

    A veteran hospitality leader, Nassief emphasized that consistent, affordable inter-island air connectivity is the backbone of sustainable tourism development across the Caribbean. Ending the Dominica-Trinidad route does not only disrupt direct travel between the two island nations, he argued, but also undermines years of coordinated work to build out the region’s multi-destination tourism product — a key strategy for extending visitor stays and boosting overall tourism revenue. He noted that the two islands offer complementary experiences that appeal perfectly to international travelers: visitors can spend days exploring Dominica’s world-famous rainforests, rivers and natural attractions, then head to Trinidad for its vibrant culture, cuisine and urban attractions.

    Beyond intra-regional travel, Nassief pointed out that the route served as a critical, efficient gateway for international visitors coming from major source markets including the United States and Canada. Currently, Dominica has no direct air service to major North American hubs like New York’s JFK Airport or Toronto Pearson International Airport, meaning the Port of Spain connection was the most seamless option for travelers from those markets to reach the island. This loss, he said, will be felt on both sides of the route, weakening access for travelers to both destinations.

    The CHTA leader also used the moment to draw attention to the longstanding crisis of excessive air travel taxes across the Caribbean, which he called one of the biggest barriers to deeper regional integration. Nassief explained that across the region, taxes on intra-Caribbean travel can reach as high as 50 percent of ticket costs, compared to a global average of just 15 percent.

    “It’s two decades overdue [for reform]. It is crazy that, as a region, we tax our travellers up to 50 percent while the average international travel tax is around 15 percent. We make it so difficult for our own people to travel,” he said.

    According to Nassief’s estimates, this excessive tax burden and the resulting high cost of inter-regional travel is costing the Caribbean billions of dollars in lost economic activity annually. It holds back progress in three critical areas: free movement for residents traveling for business, medical care, leisure and cultural events, the growth of multi-destination tourism products, and the region’s ability to capitalize on future airlift from fast-growing emerging markets.

    Looking ahead, Nassief acknowledged that new direct air links from emerging source markets including the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America are likely to become a reality in coming years. However, he stressed that these new long-haul services will almost certainly route through major Caribbean hub airports rather than flying directly to smaller island nations, making strong intra-regional connectivity from those hubs more important than ever to distribute the economic benefits of new international traffic across the region.

    Nassief closed by reiterating his appeal, saying that restoring the Dominica-Trinidad route is a critical step toward building a more resilient, integrated and prosperous regional tourism industry for all Caribbean nations.

  • Prime Minister Drew: Climate Change Demands Urgent Action as Federation Faces Severe Drought

    Prime Minister Drew: Climate Change Demands Urgent Action as Federation Faces Severe Drought

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – June 11, 2026 – As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis grapples with one of the most intense drought events recorded in recent decades, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, who also oversees the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), has sounded a clear call for immediate, decisive action to address climate change, warning that the crisis is no longer a hypothetical future risk but an immediate threat reshaping daily life for all citizens and residents across the island nation.

    Speaking before the National Assembly on Thursday, Drew framed the ongoing dry spell as a critical national challenge fueled by overlapping climate drivers: the cyclical weather pattern of El Niño, compounded by the long-term impacts of human-caused global climate change. He detailed how steadily climbing regional temperatures, shifted seasonal rainfall patterns, and growing volatility in extreme weather events have combined to put unprecedented strain on the Federation’s already limited freshwater supplies.

    According to Drew, the current crisis underscores the foresight of the St. Kitts and Nevis government’s flagship Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA), a strategic framework designed from its launch to proactively tackle emerging climate hazards and build long-term national adaptive capacity. For small island developing states (SIDS) like St. Kitts and Nevis, which face disproportionate climate risk despite contributing very little to global emissions, these shifting conditions are not abstract statistics, he emphasized.

    “Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increasingly unpredictable weather events are realities that small island developing states, such as ours, must now confront with urgency and determination,” Drew told legislative representatives.

    The Prime Minister openly acknowledged the widespread hardship the drought has imposed on local households, small businesses, and community groups across the Federation, moving to reassure the public that the national government is fully mobilized to respond to the emergency. “We understand the frustration and inconvenience that families, businesses, and communities are facing. This government does not minimize those concerns – these are serious issues, and we are responding to them with seriousness and resolve,” he said.

    Drew recalled that climate resilience has been a core policy priority for his administration since it took office in August 2022. Immediately upon assuming power, the government prioritized targeted investments to shore up national water security, after reviewing long-term climate forecasts that warned of growing drought risk and potential freshwater shortages across the islands. “We were only elected in 2022 and right away we got to work, Madam Speaker, because when we went into office, we picked up what was on the desk: a forecast that showed St. Kitts and Nevis would experience significant drought and water shortages. That is why we invested so much from day one,” he explained.

    To date, the government’s proactive interventions include expanded groundwater drilling programs, the construction of a large-scale new desalination plant, comprehensive upgrades to aging water distribution networks, and the installation of upgraded pipelines and pumping infrastructure to boost water output and improve service reliability across St. Kitts.

    Drew stressed that the nation’s approach to climate adaptation must be rooted in long-term strategic planning, intentional resilience-building, and sustained investment. “Our objective remains clear: to build a modern, resilient, and sustainable water system capable of delivering reliable access to water for every citizen and resident of Saint Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

    The national government has maintained close collaborative partnerships with regional and international stakeholders to advance these critical water security goals, including the Republic of China (Taiwan), whose financial and technical support has accelerated progress on key infrastructure projects.

    As climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather and water scarcity risks for small island developing states across the Caribbean region, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis reaffirmed its commitment to rolling out practical, community-centered solutions that strengthen national resilience, protect vulnerable populations, and safeguard critical natural resources for future generations.

  • VS valt Iran aan, Iran sluit Straat van Hormuz

    VS valt Iran aan, Iran sluit Straat van Hormuz

    A dangerous new spiral of conflict has erupted between the United States and Iran, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered fresh strikes on multiple targets across Iranian territory, triggering immediate retaliatory missile attacks on American military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait and the full closure of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz to all global shipping traffic.

    U.S. military officials confirmed the strikes were carried out Wednesday evening, framing the operation as a direct response to what they described as Iran’s unprovoked and ongoing acts of aggression. According to Iranian state media reports, blasts rocked multiple locations along the Strait of Hormuz, including Qeshm Island and the coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. The southern Iranian city of Kargan was also hit in the attacks, leaving at least two people wounded.

    The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, accused the U.S. of repeated violations of the April ceasefire agreement between the two nations. In response to the strikes, the IRGC announced the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to all commercial and military shipping until further notice. The waterway is one of the world’s most vital chokepoints for global energy trade, meaning its closure blocks all passage, including for the oil tankers that carry roughly a fifth of the world’s daily crude oil supplies.

    The IRGC added that two oil tankers attempting to make an illegal crossing through the strait have already been hit. Beyond the closure, Iranian forces carried out targeted missile strikes on airports hosting U.S. personnel in both Bahrain and Kuwait to fulfill its retaliation commitment.

    This sharp escalation comes just 24 hours after Iranian forces shot down a U.S. Apache attack helicopter operating near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that followed a series of tit-for-tat exchanges between the two countries. Both of the helicopter’s pilots were later rescued by U.S. forces with no fatalities reported from that incident.

    In public comments following the strikes, President Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the U.S. would hit the country “very hard” if further retaliation continued. Trump claimed that ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive peace deal between Washington and Tehran have reached a dead end, insisting that Iran “will pay the price” for its continued resistance to U.S. demands. He went further to threaten additional strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and key bridges if Tehran refuses to accept a U.S.-backed peace agreement.

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a forceful rejection of Trump’s threats, dismissing them as a clear sign of American desperation amid the escalating standoff. Pezeshkian stressed that Iran would remain steadfast in the face of all external pressure and aggression, backed by strong national unity and the expertise of its military and diplomatic institutions.

    Today, the overall security situation across the Persian Gulf region remains highly tense and deeply unpredictable. Given the Strait of Hormuz’s central role in global energy trade and international supply chains, the ongoing conflict carries far-reaching consequences for both global security and the world economy, with analysts warning of potential disruptions that could ripple across every major global market.

  • Attempted robbery suspect shot dead

    Attempted robbery suspect shot dead

    A would-be armed robber is dead after a violent exchange of gunfire with responding law enforcement during an attempted supermarket robbery in Georgetown, Guyana, late Wednesday, local police confirmed in an official statement updated Thursday. The incident unfolded shortly before 9 p.m. on Mandela Avenue, where three male suspects had already taken two unarmed security guards hostage at gunpoint, forcing the guards to the ground, when an off-patrol police officer stumbled upon the ongoing crime.

    When the uniformed officer stepped in to halt the robbery, one of the three suspects immediately opened fire in the officer’s direction, according to details released by the Guyana Police Force. In self-defense and to stop the armed attacker, the officer returned fire using his issued service weapon. Following the shootout, the two unhit suspects fled the scene in separate directions, while the gun-wielding suspect who had shot at the officer collapsed into a roadside drain adjacent to the supermarket.

    Law enforcement personnel who responded to the scene recovered a .38 caliber revolver from the suspect, along with three remaining live ammunition rounds and multiple spent bullet casings. Emergency medical personnel and an on-duty doctor were called to the site, where the suspect was examined and officially pronounced dead. The remaining two suspects remain at large as of Thursday’s update, with a manhunt currently underway to locate and apprehend them. Local authorities have not released the identity of the deceased suspect pending notification of next of kin.

  • Businessman Larry Gonsalves Dies; WIOC Pays Tribute

    Businessman Larry Gonsalves Dies; WIOC Pays Tribute

    The Caribbean business community is mourning the loss of one of its most respected long-standing members, prominent fuel retail sector figure Lawrence “Larry” Gonsalves, with regional energy firm West Indies Oil Company Ltd. (WIOC) the latest to issue a heartfelt tribute to his life and legacy.

    In an official public statement released following Gonsalves’ death, WIOC’s full board of directors, senior management, and all company staff joined together to extend deep condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and loved ones he left behind.

    The company highlighted that Gonsalves built a reputation that stretched far beyond his work operating service stations across the region. While his professional contributions to the local fuel retail industry were substantial, his most enduring impact came from his personal connections, and his willingness to lift up emerging entrepreneurs as a trusted mentor, WIOC emphasized.

    Described as a figure admired by everyone who crossed paths with him, Gonsalves earned widespread respect across the business community over decades of active engagement in local public and commercial life. “A man who was respected by many and loved by all who knew him. More than a service station operator, he was a friend and mentor to many,” the WIOC statement read.

    The organization closed by reaffirming that Gonsalves’ contributions, guidance, and warm spirit will long be remembered by every person whose life he influenced over his decades-long career, adding that the entire WIOC community holds his family in their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

  • Civil Liberties Group Says Barbudans Must Approve Major Changes to Land Ownership

    Civil Liberties Group Says Barbudans Must Approve Major Changes to Land Ownership

    A prominent civil society group in Antigua and Barbuda is drawing a clear line in the sand over proposed changes to Barbuda’s longstanding land framework, insisting that no major alteration to the island’s land ownership rules, governing structure or long-term development strategies can move forward without the free, informed and uncoerced consent of Barbudan residents. The Antigua and Barbuda Civil Liberties Movement has raised sharp alarms about ongoing pushes to expand freehold private land ownership and usher in large-scale high-end real estate development across the Caribbean island, arguing that the proposed shifts touch on fundamental constitutional rights, the future of local self-governance and the core principles of democratic participation for the island’s population. In an official public statement, the organization anchored its position in the country’s founding legal document, pointing specifically to Section 123(1) of Antigua and Barbuda’s Constitution. This provision formally designates the Barbuda Council as the primary institution of local self-governance for the island, and the group maintains that both the council and the community it represents deserve full, meaningful consultation before any decisions that reshape Barbuda’s lands, natural resources and long-term trajectory are finalized. The movement emphasized the deep historical value of Barbuda’s communal land tenure system, noting that for generations this structure has shielded local residents from predatory land speculation, prevented the dangerous concentration of land ownership in the hands of a small elite, and guaranteed that future generations of Barbudans will retain access to land on their native island. The group has issued a formal call to the national government, urging officials to honor the constitutionally enshrined role of the Barbuda Council and ensure that all proposals related to land ownership, land management and infrastructure or residential development are carried out with complete transparency and full, inclusive public participation from the Barbudan community. Crucially, the organization clarified that it does not oppose all new development or foreign investment on the island. Instead, it maintains that responsible economic growth and incoming investment can coexist with full respect for Barbuda’s traditional communal land tenure system and its locally rooted democratic institutions.