barbudaful news for July to September 2011
Read our archive for news from June 2011 and beforehand.
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More Tropical Storms...
27 September 2011
There was some serious flooding in the area around the Barbuda Council Day Care facility as a result of the passage of the latest storm Ophelia, now a hurricane but no longer over Barbuda. According to Storm Carib reports there were 'torrents of rain, some crazy lightning, dog-terrifying thunder and even a 4.5 earthquake'. The flood waters from the duck pond spilled into the school grounds and left a plague of juvenile frogs in the Day Care facility. The health department of the Council was forced to employ pumping equipment to deal with the excessive water.
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Tropical Storm Maria threatens Antigua and Barbuda
10 September 2011
Tropical Storm Maria is predicted to pass between Antigua and Barbuda this afternoon; in Barbuda people have been boarding up and getting ready.
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Gravenor Bay project was given the green light?
06 September 2011
Deputy Chairman of the Barbuda Council, Fabian Jones is hoping the Barbuda Council goes back to residents following what he described as the recent 'disaster vote' on a proposed development says local newspaper The Antigua Observer. Many residents including marine biologist and head teacher John Mussington have expressed disgust with Council proceedings during last week's village meeting, at which the Gravenor Bay project was given the green light. Times are hard in Barbuda but is this is another lease that is going to end up 'For Sale' on a Caribbean real estate website?
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Tropical Storm Irene passes close by
22 August 2011
Tropical Storm Irene has just passed Barbuda, leaving a bit of damage in
it's wake.
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Beazer Family Reunion
14 August 2011
The Beazer family had their reunion at Holy Trinity School.
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Proposed new resort gets poor reception
11 August 2011
The village meeting to vote on the proposed 1666 acre Stanhope Shepherd Gravenor Bay resort, which is said to include a marina, various residences, a golf course and a donkey sanctuary (the whole island is a donkey sanctuary!) was a very heated affair. The turnout was at least 250 with many people angry about the proposal and the lack of information provided by Council. There was little clarity regarding due diligence, the exact area requested and the amount of employment it would generate. The meeting was very chaotic, and as the law specifies that only those who are registered on the voters list and who are Barbudans can vote, this was impossible to verify so only 105 persons voted. Thus the majority did not vote.
It is apparent that no lease can be granted based on this meeting as the Barbuda Land Act provides for four steps:
- The people agree in principle
- The council obtain full details and make their judgement
- The proposal is forwarded to Cabinet once Council agrees - and Cabinet must agree
- The people make their final judgement
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Official Opening of new fisheries complex
10 August 2011
The opening of the new fisheries building was attended by a large enthusiastic crowd, although there were others who made their protest felt.
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Barbuda Council lays off workers
08 August 2011
Some difficult times ahead as Council lay off people of pensionable age and put other workers on half pay - from their total of approximately 500 workers. But on Wednesday the Fisheries complex officially opens, giving Barbudans more opportunities in their own self employment in the fishing industry.
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Hurricane Watch
02 August 2011
Our holiday camping weekend has been very wet and Barbuda is now watching Tropical Storm Emily passing south of us and hopefully going away for good. View weather forecasts at www.antiguamet.com, and local reports at www.stormcarib.com.
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Barbuda Council seeks Secretary
30 July 2011
The Barbuda Council is seeking to appoint a new Secretary (Chief Executive) and invites applications for this post. All applicants should have a First degree in either accountancy, law, or public administration and at least five years work experience at a senior management level. The salary is as a Permanent Secretary in Antigua.
The main duties are:
- prepare annual estimates of revenue and expenditure
- convene and record all Council meetings and committees and implement their decisions
- liase with ministries in Antigua
- manage all Council staff
Those suitably qualified who wish to apply should send a letter of application, including a detailed cv and the contact details of of two referees - either by post, fax or by e mail - to arrive before the closing date of August 12th 19th, 2011. All correspondence should be addressed to - Kelvin Punter, Chairman of Barbuda Council. The postal address is Codrington, Barbuda via St Johns, Antigua, West Indies, or e-mail to Barbuda Council. Other contact details are listed here; please confirm that your application has been received.
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CARNIVAL this weekend!
29 July 2011
Antigua Carnival
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New roads make for easy going
27 July 2011
Barbuda's new road surfacing programme has come into its own in the
rainy weather: now there's no mud or water to wade through on the new roads. See the difference before and after above.
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It's mango season!
26 July 2011
Mango season is in full swing in Barbuda - some are ripe now, others take a few more weeks.
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It's still raining!
22 July 2011
A land turtle enjoys the flood water: it's still raining.
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More storms coming as Barbuda greens-up
16 July 2011
Another tropical wave is heading for Barbuda; this has been the wettest July in many years. But Barbuda looks green as a result, and good for planting corn, pumpkin, melon and all the other Barbudan staples.
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Beach named for Princess Diana
11 July 2011
The Princess Diana Beach naming ceremony took place later than planned after a day of rain. Elsewhere on Barbuda's beaches there's pink sand by Palmetto Point and some big fat Coco Plums ready to eat everywhere else.
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Read our archive for earlier news and articles.
