The Caribbean's pristine beaches, once a symbol of freedom and community, are now under threat from foreign developers and the very laws meant to protect them. This is the story of Miranda Beazer, a Barbudan woman who is fighting to reclaim her land and the heart of her community. It's a tale that raises important questions about the future of Caribbean tourism and the role of colonial-era laws in shaping it.
A Beach Bar's Last Stand
On the small Caribbean island of Barbuda, Miranda Beazer's Pink Sands Beach Bar was more than just a place to drink and play dominoes. It was a community hub, a place where locals gathered to relax and connect. But in 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island, and Miranda's bar was among the many structures destroyed. As if that wasn't enough, foreign developers started offering her large sums of money for her plot, but she refused them all. "It's not the money that I'm after," she says. "I actually want to retain my land."
Miranda's refusal to sell her land is not just about the money; it's about preserving the cultural and historical significance of her community. Her land is the last strip of Barbuda's southern coastline that is still accessible to locals, and she believes it's crucial to protect it from being turned into an exclusive retreat for tourists.
The Complex Legal Landscape
The problem is that Barbuda's land ownership system is complex and often misunderstood. Land ownership is collective, meaning that individual citizens have the right to occupy a plot of land by applying for a lease, but they do not privately own it. Instead, all land is owned communally, and citizens share the collective right to be consulted and to have the final say on major developments. This system was established after slavery ended in Barbuda in 1834 and was officially recognized by the government of Antigua and Barbuda in 2007, when the Barbuda Land Act was passed.
Miranda says she owns the lease to 30 acres of coastline, but currently, she only has access to eight. The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), a network of lawyers supporting her, says the rest of the land is being illegally occupied by foreign developers Murbee Resorts and Peace Love and Happiness (PLH).
The Battle for Barbuda's Beaches
The battle for Barbuda's beaches is not just about Miranda's land; it's about the future of Caribbean tourism and the role of colonial-era laws in shaping it. As tourists start to look further afield, seeking out less well-known destinations, smaller Caribbean islands such as Grenada are also seeing legal disputes. Kriss Davies, chairperson of the campaign group Grenada Land Actors, fears that as demand grows, the arrival of more large resorts could make Grenada lose the charm that makes it unique for locals and tourists alike.
The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world, with roughly half of all holidaymakers to the region being American. For governments across the region, the continuing growth of the sector offers an enticing path towards economic growth and development. But, as Devon Taylor, president of the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (Jabbem), says, "Travel is never neutral - it carries both an economic and moral weight."
Taylor argues that the current land legislation in Jamaica discriminates against Jamaicans, as it clearly states they have no rights in or over the foreshore. The Jamaican government recently proposed a new law to improve beach access for locals, but Taylor argues that instead of improving Jamaicans' land rights, it places more restrictions on where they can go, by encouraging hotels to sell beach passes to locals. "You're selling back the access to the people," he says.
The Future of Caribbean Tourism
As the demand for a portion of paradise only continues to grow, Caribbean land defenders remain concerned that, rather than bringing opportunity, tourism could irrevocably change the place they call home. The battle for Barbuda's beaches is a microcosm of this larger struggle, and it raises important questions about the future of Caribbean tourism and the role of colonial-era laws in shaping it. In my opinion, the Caribbean's pristine beaches, once a symbol of freedom and community, are now under threat from foreign developers and the very laws meant to protect them. It's a tale that demands our attention and action.
