Editing Barbuda (section)

=== Modern history ===
Barbuda was first granted a status of [[autonomy]] in 1976,<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1991 |title=Statehood, the Commons, and the Landscape in Barbuda |journal=Caribbean Geography |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=43–52 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Corbett |first=Jack |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/46081/chapter-abstract/404585256?redirectedFrom=fulltext |title=Statehood à la Carte in the Caribbean and the Pacific: Secession, Regionalism, and Postcolonial Politics |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2023 |chapter=Territory |pages=112–146 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780192864246.003.0004 |isbn=978-0-19-286424-6 |access-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813033545/https://academic.oup.com/book/46081/chapter-abstract/404585256?redirectedFrom=fulltext |url-status=live }}</ref> during the concluding era of the [[Associated State of Antigua]]. This autonomous status came after the passing of the [[Barbuda Local Government Act]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-44.pdf |title=Laws of Antigua and Barbuda |publisher=The Ministry of Legal Affairs |chapter=The Barbuda Local Government Act |access-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119230904/http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-44.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> This established the [[Barbuda Council]], which allowed Barbuda to regulate its own public works, finance, and agriculture, among other activities. The Barbuda Local Government Act was later enshrined in the constitution under the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution of 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barbuda Local Government Act (Hansard) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/acts/barbuda-local-government-act |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=api.parliament.uk |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813033545/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/acts/barbuda-local-government-act |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Antigua (Termination of Association) (Hansard, 8 July 1981) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1981/jul/08/antigua-termination-of-association#S6CV0008P0_19810708_HOC_447 |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=api.parliament.uk |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813033545/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1981/jul/08/antigua-termination-of-association#S6CV0008P0_19810708_HOC_447 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Barbuda Council elects a chairperson and a vice chairperson, with Devon Warner serving as chairperson since 2024.

In 1981, the island gained its independence from the United Kingdom as an integral part of [[Antigua and Barbuda]]. It remains part of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], and remains a [[constitutional monarchy]], with [[King Charles III|Charles III]] as [[Monarchy in Antigua and Barbuda|King of Antigua and Barbuda]].

The right for Barbudans to use the island's lands in common was enshrined in the law in 2007 by the [[Baldwin Spencer (politician)|Baldwin Spencer]]-led [[United Progressive Party]] government.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |url=https://barbudaful.net/barbuda-land-act-2007/ |title=Barbuda Land Act 2007 |date=April 4, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802004255/https://barbudaful.net/barbuda-land-act-2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://barbudaful.net/barbudaful-history/the-land-issue/ |title=barbuda land rights |access-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402174717/https://barbudaful.net/barbudaful-history/the-land-issue/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 5, 2007, the Barbuda Council released the final copies of the [[Barbuda Land Acts|Barbuda Land Act]], which created a land registry, a Barbuda Planning Commission, and a National Park Authority, all subordinate to the council.<ref name=":9" /> In 2017, immediately after [[Hurricane Irma]] which devastated Barbuda, this was considered the starting point of the Barbuda land grab which has resulted in various policies and laws made by the [[Gaston Browne]]-led administration relating to Barbudan land.<ref>{{Cite web |title=After Irma, Disaster Capitalism Threatens Cultural Heritage in Barbuda |url=https://nacla.org/news/2019/02/12/after-irma-disaster-capitalism-threatens-cultural-heritage-barbuda |access-date=August 2, 2023 |website=NACLA |language=en |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225153657/https://nacla.org/news/2019/02/12/after-irma-disaster-capitalism-threatens-cultural-heritage-barbuda |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 1, 2023, it was announced by the [[Barbuda People's Movement]], which controls the Barbuda seat in parliament, and controls the council, that a bill proposed and passed days earlier that would end Barbudan communal land ownership, would vow to do everything to reverse the decision, with the council being in support of the stance of the Barbuda People's Movement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/barbuda-mp-vows-to-reverse-bill-removing-communal-land-ownership/ |title=Barbuda MP vows to reverse bill removing communal land ownership &#124; Antigua Observer Newspaper |date=August 2023 |access-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803023451/https://antiguaobserver.com/barbuda-mp-vows-to-reverse-bill-removing-communal-land-ownership/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Christianity is the largest religion on the island, and the main ethnic group being those of African descent. English and [[Barbudan Creole]] are the most commonly spoken languages on the island. Based on voter registration records, the population of Barbuda has grown significantly since Irma.