Barbuda

Ensuring an Equal Partnership in a Unitary State

During our first term, the status of the sister island of Barbuda as an equal partner with Antigua in a stable, unitary state has been consolidated. For the first time in our country’s history the Barbuda Member of Parliament received a Cabinet appointment. Never again will Barbuda be seen as a neglected backwoods to the metropolitan Antigua, as it was in the bygone days of ALP misrule.

Today Barbuda is a respected and integral part of the national community, with its own elected Barbuda Council having full authority to plan and manage the affairs of the island. UPP has made sure that as part of the unitary state, the Central Government gives equal attention and priority to the development of Barbuda’s facilities and its people to the same high standard as those of Antigua.

During our first term, our promises to Barbuda were fulfilled. There was an emergence of focused direction and shared vision as the UPP administration worked to put Barbuda on a path for enhanced development. Working with the Barbuda Council we were able to achieve:

• Improved infrastructure, including new road construction and enhanced provision of water and electricity services, and
• Upgrading and improving both the primary and secondary schools.
• Providing scholarships for over 40 Barbudan young people to attend university in various countries around the world.
• A greater integration of Barbudans in the administration of the country. Under our UPP administration several Barbudans have been appointed members of the various statutory boards, and the Chairman of the Barbuda Council and other officials are invited to attend regional conferences held in Antigua.

During our second term in our programme to develop Barbuda, in cooperation with the Barbuda Council, a UPP Government will focus on:

Fisheries Complex

The construction of a modern Fisheries Complex, to be undertaken in collaboration with the Government of Japan.

Wind Turbine Energy

Transforming and revolutionizing the energy sector by installing a wind farm to generate electricity by wind turbines, and a bank of Solar Voltaic Cells to transform sunlight into electricity. Barbuda will become the only significant island community that derives all its required energy from renewable environmentally friendly methods. Discussions have already begun to secure Cuba’s technical assistance for this project.

Rebuilding the agricultural sector

Already discussions are underway for Cuban technical support for this initiative.

Joint Consultative Committee

The UPP administration will ensure a higher profile for the Joint Consultative Committee. This will be a standing committee of senior Antiguan and Barbudan leaders, chaired by the Prime Minister, that will work in partnership with the Barbuda Council. The primary role of the JCC will be supervising and monitoring development plans and projects for Barbuda.