I am writing to you today not an accusation, but with a question that weighs heavily on my mind and, I believe, the hearts of every Barbudan. It is a question born of observation, of worry, and of a deep love for our land and our unique identity.

In most recent years, we have seen a pattern: expectant mothers from Barbuda are sent to Mount St. John’s Medical Centre in Antigua to give birth. Even in cases where a baby is born on Barbuda, the mother and child are swiftly sent to Antigua for a “check-up,” and it is there, it seems, that the birth is officially recorded. The result? These precious new Barbudans, who are the very future of our island, have birth certificates that list them as Antiguan.

At first glance, this might seem like a simple administrative matter. But is it?

When we consider this alongside our special Barbuda Land Act, which holds that our land is owned in common by Barbudans, a chilling question begins to take shape. For decades, our land has been our birthright, a foundational part of who we are. Our land is our legacy. But what happens when the very definition of a “Barbudan” becomes blurred? What happens when our children are officially deemed Antiguan from birth?

Is this an intentional act? Are we, as a people, simply overthinking a procedural quirk, or are we witnessing a subtle, strategic erosion of our Barbudan identity and, with it, our collective land rights? The hospital on Barbuda, which should be a place for us to welcome new generations, seems to serve as a waystation, expediting the transfer of our newborns to Antigua. What is the purpose of this? What is missing from our local hospital that maternity services cannot be provided safely and completely right here at home?

This is not a conspiracy theory. This is a quiet, ongoing situation that deserves a loud, public inquiry.

To the Barbudans reading this: these are our children. This is our land. Are we to stand idly by as our birthright is systematically redefined?

I urge the authorities to provide a clear and public explanation. I call upon the Barbuda Council and the people of Barbuda to demand a thorough investigation into this practice. Let us, as a community, ask the hard questions now before it is too late. Let us ensure that our children are not only born Barbudan but are recognized as such in every sense of the word. Our identity, our land, and our future depend on it.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Barbudan