Barbados Agricultural Society CEO Criticizes Government Land Acquisition, Warns of Food Security Risks

The BAS CEO also questioned the necessity of acquiring more land for housing developments, pointing out that many existing housing projects remain unoccupied.

“In St Philip, in St John, there are houses that were built and have been left vacant. Even in some urban areas, you see empty homes,” he said.

Barbados is facing a declining population, Paul noted, which undermines the rationale for continuous housing expansion.

“Exactly who are we building these houses for?” he asked. “If the population isn’t growing fast, why are we taking up more land to provide for housing? This doesn’t add up.”

He suggested that financial incentives, rather than genuine housing needs, may be driving these decisions.

“The banks and financial institutions are making quick bucks off this, and it seems that’s what is dictating policy—not what’s best for the country,” Paul charged.

He called for immediate reforms to protect agricultural land from speculative practices. “We need a moratorium on the transfer or change of use of these lands,” Paul further urged.

In his view, Barbados should adopt stricter regulations similar to those in larger countries: “Even in capitalist economies like the United States and the UK, there are limits to how agricultural land can be repurposed. If you buy agricultural land, you can’t just convert it because you know someone in power. That is unacceptable.”

He proposed that when agricultural land becomes available, it should be prioritised for farming.

“Some families inherit agricultural land but have no interest in farming. There should be systems in place to transfer this land to people who want to farm, not to speculators looking to destroy a precious resource,” he argued.

Paul also criticised what he sees as inconsistency in Barbados’ environmental policies.

“We talk about protecting the environment and championing sustainability, but our actions as a nation tell a different story,” he said. “You can’t claim to care about the environment while undermining agriculture and food security.”

“We are good at making speeches, but speeches won’t protect us when food prices rise and our shelves are empty,” Paul added.

The CEO further expressed concerns that the government’s actions set a worrying precedent. “This recent land grab by the government sets a bad example for others in the economy,” he said. “If the government can do it, why wouldn’t private developers follow suit?”

He also cautioned that these actions could erode public trust.

“People watch what the government does. If they see agricultural land being treated as expendable, it sends the message that nothing is off-limits,” Paul contended.

For him, the solution lies in valuing agricultural land not just as a commodity but as a critical component of national resilience.

“We need to come to terms with what we’re doing,” he said. “This isn’t just about today—it’s about the survival of our country in an increasingly uncertain world. If we don’t act now, it may be too late.” (RG)