Barbuda Beach Access Faces Development

Miranda Beazer of Barbuda is fighting to regain access to her land after foreign developers demolished what remained of her beach bar following Hurricane Irma in 2017. Beazer’s family has occupied the land for generations, but Barbuda’s communal land ownership system complicates private claims. While citizens have lease rights, the land itself is held collectively, creating challenges in disputes with developers like Murbee Resorts and PLH.

The government amended the 2007 Land Act to allow construction of the Paradise Found resort—a 400-acre complex with villas and a Nobu hotel—despite objections from the Barbuda Council. The Privy Council ultimately ruled in favor of the government, affirming that Barbudan status does not guarantee property rights.

Similar land disputes are unfolding across the Caribbean, including in Jamaica and Grenada, where local access to beaches is threatened by tourism and private development. These conflicts highlight a tension between economic growth and preserving cultural heritage for island communities. The work to balance these priorities continues as tourism expands in the region.