Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM)

The BPM was founded in 1978 and as such has a long history of representing all Barbudans in their struggle for freedom and self-determination. After years of the exploitation of Barbuda by Antiguan government ministers through sand-mining, illegal leases and general indifference to this community, an improvement came about in the relationship with the Antigua government in 2004 as a result of the defeat of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) government led by Lester Bird. 

A new alliance became possible between the United Progressive Party (UPP) government led by the third Prime Minister of Antigua, Baldwin Spencer, and the Barbuda People’s Movement in Barbuda. This eradicated at least a quarter of a century of mistrust, confrontation and confusion and the twin-island state was finally united.

As a result of this UPP partnership the people of Barbuda embraced the passage into law of the Barbuda Land Act 2007 which recognized communal ownership of all lands on the island, and Barbudans’ sole right to determine how their land is to be used, developed, and tenured in the future. In recognition of his wish to enter into a strong partnership with Barbuda, the UPP Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer gave the BPM representative at the time – Trevor Walker – the Cabinet position of Minister for Works and Transport. This recognition brought many benefits to Barbuda, including some major improvements in the previously neglected infrastructural aspects of the island’s economy: a new and expanded roads network, an improved electrical supply that did not fail, the construction of a reverse osmosis water supply system, greater educational opportunities for young Barbudans overseas, and radical improvements in the health and social welfare provisions of the Barbuda Council. A Pensions Act introduced into the legislative structure has vastly improved the level of security for all workers when they reach retirement age. In addition BPM insisted that the Chinese government aid to Antigua and Barbuda provided a new community centre in Barbuda and a Japanese government aid fisheries building situated in the Lagoon – the most accessible place for local small boat fishers.

But in 2014 – as a result of ABLP corrupt influence in Barbuda’s electoral affairs – Trevor Walker was defeated by Arthur Nibbs, another ex-BPM Barbudan member of the ALP in the 2014 general election. As an afterthought the ALP became the ABLP. 

Since Hurricane Irma, this relationship has been consistently undermined by Gaston Browne, the current ALP Antigua Prime Minister. The BPM know that the ruthless exploitation of Barbuda’s natural resources are now at risk from his government, as a result of our experience of sand mining in the past. Now we see most of our coastline being allocated to ‘investors’ who are destroying our infrastructure to build on our beaches for profit. And of course to give this income to Antigua government ministers who do not have Barbuda’s best interests at heart. The De Niro Paradise Found Project wanted to include an unwelcome casino as part of a ‘Barbuda Master Plan’ for which the government repealed the Barbuda Land Act, and created the Paradise Found Act. These actions have resulted in expensive and time-consuming court cases for Barbudans that further undermine the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda.

So BPM has now returned Trevor Walker as MP and have since easily won all of the seats on the Barbuda Council, with the land issue dominating local opinions. They have vowed to continue to campaign and to take legal action where necessary for self-determination, equality and justice.