Since the emancipation proclamation that signalled the end of enslavement of Africans in the Caribbean, Barbudans have acted as good stewards managing the lands and resources of Barbuda in a sustainable manner. This has resulted in this island continuing to have natural resources that are superior to many of its neighbours.

Up until now, Barbudans have ‘saved’ Barbuda. We are the ones who are best equipped to continue to do so — but our greatest challenge originates from external entities with huge financial resources and the motivation to multiply those financial assets by monetising the island's natural assets.

We need your support to give exposure to what is happening and to highlight the heroic struggles by Barbudans at home and in the Diaspora to resist the disaster capitalists and fake philanthropists.

No, they do not. It is only by employing the “Shock Doctrine” — taking advantage of the upheavals of the Hurricane Irma disaster of 2017 — that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda was able to force through new legislation that allowed the developers to execute their plans. This happened while all Barbudans, including the elected members of the Barbuda Council, were forcibly evacuated. These non-participatory legislative changes and the legality of the actions of the government and the developers are being challenged in the Courts.

Land grabs such as this are part of a global trend where vulnerable communities are dispossessed of their land to make way for large-scale private investments from which governments, multinational corporations and investors seek to profit.

Such developments are also part of a global trend of over-development on small-island nations with total disregard for impacts on locals and the environment, nor consideration of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Water is the basis of life on planet earth. The wetlands of the world represent the basis for the water cycles that circulate and recycles water on the planet. This circulation of water nourishes and sustains the major ecosystems of the planet. This includes every island, continent, river, ocean, pond and lake. Water links them all. This fact is critical to wildlife and to the human population.

The Ramsar convention is a treaty which embodies the commitment of the countries of the world to play their part in protecting, conserving and managing these critical areas. It is understood that the water cycles are dynamic and are not restricted by artificial borders. They therefore cannot be managed in isolation. A collective effort is required to guarantee livelihoods, protect and sustain wildlife and all life on the planet. The RAMSAR convention matters, for everyone and for life as we know it.

Several species of fauna are facing unprecedented risk on Barbuda due to these developments.

One is the West Indian Whistling Duck. This waterfowl hides and rests during the daytime and is active at night. The wetlands and thickets of Palmetto Point provide the ideal habitat for this unusual bird. The absence of disturbance from built developments and the extensive wilderness areas without natural predators creates the ideal refuge for this endangered species. Barbuda represents the southernmost extent of its steadily shrinking range in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Barbuda Warbler is endemic to the island of Barbuda. This tiny insect-eating warbler thrives in the mangrove wetlands of the Codrington Lagoon National Park, especially around the Palmetto Point area. This bird is so secretive and specific in its nesting habits that an active nest is yet to be documented. Intact natural areas like the Palmetto Point protected area are critical for the survival of this species.

The long stretches of white sandy beaches and the natural sand dunes and natural beach vegetation make ideal nesting areas for Caribbean Sea Turtles. All of the species resident in the Caribbean use the undisturbed beach lands of the CLNP including Palmetto Point as nesting grounds. Sea Turtles are critically endangered and adult females always return to their birth beach to lay their eggs. Loss of these beaches, due to the activities of the PLH Partnership and the Barbuda Ocean Club, threaten to destroy the last refuge for these amazing sea creatures.

Biodiversity is the foundation of ecological resilience. Eliminating species diversity by converting natural areas to the monoculture of golf grass, coconut palms, succulent flowers and ornamentals puts entire ecosystems at risk. These ecosystems are the refuge for the wildlife that characterises this beautiful island of Barbuda.

Climate change manifests on small islands through sea level rise, increased ocean temperatures, unpredictable weather and changes in the seasons which inform local traditional knowledge, and increased severity of tropical storm events. Intact ecosystems such as wetlands and beaches are well equipped to adapt and respond to these changes. Such response often protects coastlines and the human infrastructure from the worst impacts of catastrophic events.

Building developments like those being proposed for and carried out in the coastal zone of Barbuda severely compromises the resilience and adaptability of the islands natural ecosystems. These activities therefore severely reduce the ability of the island and its people to adapt and survive the consequences of climate change.

There are many problems with this specific golf course — from its construction on a fragile protected wetland, to its lack of proper authorization from local authorities.

In addition, the proximity of the golf course to the shore — so close that seawater has already been flooding the greens — poses severe risk for the health of Barbuda’s marine environment.

Many expert scientists have researched and documented the serious harms that golf courses cause to fragile environments like this.

For example, we recommend starting with this report from the Global Coral Reef Alliance: “Golf courses kill coral reefs and fisheries: harmful algae blooms and disease caused by nutrient runoff from golf course development on Guana Cay, Abaco, Bahamas”.

The details will feel familiar… it’s about a golf course built on a Caribbean island, by Discovery Land Company, despite widespread local resistance.

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