The goal of the Barbuda Farmers' Co-operative (BFC) is the development of farming in Barbuda based on co-operative principles. We aim to incorporate all farmers, that is vegetable growers, poultry and livestock farmers, together under one umbrella. The BFC demonstrates that farming activities are a practical and profitable undertaking and we intend to initiate, develop, and encourage better and more economical methods of producing food and healthy animals that can become part of the food chain of the Caribbean islands.
The Barbuda Farmers' Co-operative was able to secure 16 acres of land from the Barbuda Council. This area is being cleared and fenced. The Co-operative has benefitted from a series of training workshops provided by the Agricultural Department of the Antigua and Barbuda government and the Gilbert Agricultural Training College.
Farmers pay a membership fee of EC$20 and may hold up to ten shares in the BFC. Each share costs EC$50.
We welcome assistance from any firm or organisation in the form of tools and implements to assist with our activities. For more information contact Mrs Frances Beazer on 268 460 0212, 268 460 0675, or 268 562 6663.
The Toddlers' Paradise Day Care was opened in 2001 for a maximum of 20 children from 0 to 2 years' old. The modern centre is open on Monday to Thursday from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm and on Friday from 7.00 am to 3.00 pm. The centre is run by Mrs Barbara Punter, who qualified in early childhood education in Canada. Mrs Punter, a member of the Living Faith Baptist Church, is assisted by five care givers. Cribs are provided for each child, who may participate in organised activities, free play, and listening to stories. The centre has a bathroom, kitchen, and playground. Snacks and lunch are provided. Information about the fees per day or per week can be obtained from Mrs Punter at the centre on 562 3523 within Antigua and Barbuda or at home on 268 460 0589.
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The Barbuda Library Association is a voluntary organisation, which was founded in 1996. The members are men and women from the community and their aim is to build a community library, thereby enabling Barbudans access to knowledge and information gathering. Barbuda has been without a library for 30 years, which has had a negative effect, especially on young people.
The architectural drawings for the community library are now completed. The site is already fenced and the ground is being cleared.
The fundraising drive continues, the annual event at Madison Square on 23 December 2006 realised EC$2500.57. The Barbuda Library Association offers many thanks to all who participated.
The Association also thanks those people at home and overseas who have expressed interest. Any offers of assistance in the form of monetary donations or technical building expertise will be greatly appreciated.
For further information contact Mrs Frances Beazer on 268 460 0675 and 268 460 0496.
Sadly Barbuda has no museum at present. A great need exists for an inventory and the preservation, storage, and display of the cultural and natural history of the island. A museum would enable local history to come alive for Barbudans, would contribute to economic and ecological tourism, and to our overall knowledge of Caribbean archaeology and biogeography.
A museum would facilitate the storage of archival materials. The “Codrington Correspondence” is a collection of more than 500 letters concerning Antigua and Barbuda written by the Codrington family and their overseers. This collection was sold to philatelists in the 1950s, but was microfilmed by the University of Texas at Austin and is available for use there. Gregg Wilson purchased copies, which need to be organised, scanned, and reproduced for display. For further information contact Gregg Wilson by email. Visit our pages on the Amerindian presence in Barbuda and the colonial period to 1900.