Crown land lease prices rise due to COI reforms, says Fraser
The cost of leasing Crown lands in the British Virgin Islands has significantly increased following the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations, according to Deputy Premier Julian Fraser.
Speaking at the Governance Reform Education & Awareness Transformation of the Virgin Islands (GREAT VI) town hall meeting on Tuesday, February 5, Fraser attributed the price hikes to the Crown Lands Management Act 2024, which came into effect in August last year.
“We brought about the Crown Lands Management Act, and as a result, Crown lands have increased exponentially,” Fraser stated. “People who were paying $500 for the lot they are occupying have seen prices rise to $10,000.”
Fraser, who is also the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, expressed concern over the drastic increases, stating that since joining the Virgin Islands Party government, his conscience has not allowed him to accept the situation without intervention.
He also acknowledged that the process for leasing land has become longer and more complex but assured residents that a formal application system will soon be introduced.
Meanwhile, Governance Reform Delivery Manager Kedrick Malone said a governance reform transition plan is set to be taken to Cabinet. This plan includes a monitoring and evaluation program to assess the impact of newly implemented legislation.
“These are laws passed by the House of Assembly, and they can be changed,” Malone stated. “There will be evidence collected to ensure they are meeting their objectives.”
The Crown Lands Management Act 2024 was designed to enhance transparency and prioritize community interests in the allocation of Crown lands. The legislation fulfills COI Recommendation B30, which called for a comprehensive review of the Crown land disposal process to ensure openness and fairness.
Despite concerns from elected officials that the new law could lead to BVIslanders losing ancestral lands, Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley defended the legislation in May, stressing that it strikes a balance between economic growth and environmental protection while ensuring future generations benefit from the territory’s natural resources.
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He is right and the coi has also cost provety
How much for it now? Jejejejejeje!!!!
Go purchase a little dictionary. Learn to spell.
Lol
Lol
Not like it was affordable for locals anyway. Some Caribbean places give their locals land for free or heavily discounted
But only the small circles of wealthy family and friends with benefits get that
$500/annual rates is insulting anywhere you go in this world for prime land leases! Many of those politically affiliated mob have had basically free land to big big offices to rent back to the very same government! WTF? When you check out the real situation they have not even been paying the ground leases for decades.
Check out the big names who got Crown Land by the TPP! This place been so dang corrupted for so dang long that those who get away with wrongs now think that it is the gold standard! Fraser just remember when you tryin’ to flex off, the Sword of Damocles (Order in Council) still looms over your fragile government heads pal!
so leasing a 2 acre beachfront plot for $500 a year is ok? now they pay $10,000 still cheap
AND WE ARE STILL WONDERING , WHO IS THIS J**ER TRYING TO FOOL ? HD DON’T EVEN EVEN KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS , WHERE YOU AT BRO ? ? ? ? ?
Being able to sort out yuh pannah a piece of land for $500 is acceptable or sustainable? Sturpss
Shouldnt really bother Fraser. He and his brothers make their own land with Government money iSea Cows bay.
Is that when he reclaimed a mangrove area in Sea Cows Bay while he was minister for Natural Resources?
And LOL again. Time enough somebody bring that up.
Send this mouse on a vacation.
better yet give him a hair cut
Andrew was the one who call them to investigate Poor Smithy be careful see where he end up
spies and destaberlisers spewing filt on the UK controlled, if not owned,site.
lol the booth at the square just about $500 so land lease at $500 was appropriate? show us the list of who benefit from leasing crown land. should be leased based on the revenue of the business operating on the land