Family insists land dispute with gov’t is about principle, not money
Mickey and Clyde Chalwell, the brothers at the center of a land dispute with the government in Hodge’s Creek, have defended their decision to fence off their property amid ongoing roadworks in the area, stating it is a matter of principle.
The Public Works Department is carrying out road improvements, but the Chalwells told BVI News on Monday that a section of the project is encroaching on private land that belongs to their family.
While they appreciate the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure, the brothers argued that due diligence should have been exercised by consulting property owners before beginning the work.
“I guess the government decided they were going to fix the road there to provide better entrances, which is fine. But I think they started the whole process wrong by not talking to any of the landowners,” Mickey Chalwell said.
He explained that his family was surprised to return to the area recently and discover that work had already begun on their land.
“We went away and came back about a week after to see a bunch of sticks on the property, highlighted with an orange color,” he recounted.
No proper consultation?
Upon inquiring, they learned about the road project but refused to allow it to continue without proper consultation.
“We had meetings, and they said they’d come back to us with a proposal of what’s happening—which is what they should have done from the beginning,” he said.
When asked whether they would permit the project to proceed after reviewing the proposals, Chalwell was clear: “As long as we get what we want.”
However, he declined to disclose specific details about their demands, emphasizing that their stance is not financially motivated.
“This has nothing to do with money. It has to do with principle,” Clyde Chalwell added.
The brothers said the dispute has been ongoing for more than a year. They also noted that a cease-and-desist letter had been sent to the government over three months ago, before they installed the poles that now obstruct roadworks.
The situation escalated when they erected the poles, preventing completion of that section of the road. They stated that the land has been in their family for forty years and that they have continuously challenged the government’s use of it without proper authorisation.
They also revealed plans to reinforce the fence with barbed wire.
Currently, roads in the area remain closed until Wednesday, February 26, affecting the stretch from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) to Hodge’s Creek to facilitate concrete works on a segment of the roadway.
Despite the landowners’ actions, Public Works Director Jeremy Hodge has stated that the project will continue.
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i support this fight
This is exactly why you are part of the problem!!!
Just boycott the chalwell businesses, can’t expect us to mash up or vehicles and not be able to get to work on time or don’t get get adequate rest because we in traffic all day over land you was never using and now it’s principle.
Say less.
so if you have a piece of land you not using as yet and the government just start building a road on it, you just showed up a day and meet work going on YOUR land; you not going to have a problem with it? I understand why they being disagreeable but at the same time the amount of money passing for it have to be within reason too.
@principle … you can go a head a boycott their business… you still gonna suffer. Government wrong and been wrong for years… they feel they can do what ever they want to do by breaking the law. That is not the way the world works, that is why the island is the way it is and will continue to be the way it is. They have tons of road that can be used to do there road work use it and stop infringing on people land. If it was a white person they wouldn’t do it but because it’s a local they feel they can. Further more just because they don’t use it doesn’t mean government have right to it. They people them have kids and generations to pass down their property to. You people does make me sick to your entailment of other people property.
This is exactly the problem. People are standing their ground and you are talking about boycott. What can anybody here do the Chalwells? This is why they can take this stance because they do not depend on you all for their bread. They run international businesses that does not rely on your little support. If the land is their land and government isn’t doing what it’s supposed to then I support them.
@principle you all done make all that money from the Government by fraud and stop talk shit about dont have to depend on Government……we the people know what went on .
I ain’t blame Alyo mehson! The government does overstep a lot. Enough is enough!
You can imagine you building on someone land without consulting them?? What sort of nonsense is that?? According to morning Braff they already have sidewalks without consultation now they come again?!!! Hmmm
I never once thought it was bout money. You can’t mind the bloggers .
Main road or not . That’s the people them family land.. they have to stick up for what is theirs and not what is wrong … regardless! If they don’t then who.. not me nor you . Right is right and wrong is wrong( PERIOD)
They don’t want Alyo money.. go around it! Leave the people them land alone smh
That same side took customers from Romney Penn to Chalwell establishment
Government gets a F+ in every area. Education, Tourism, Health, etc, etc.
Think we can add Blackmail to part of our cultural heritage. Race Track, Georgie Hill Road. Wait until we start building the $90Million dollar est E d Ferry T rmin l.
the solution is simple either pay what they want or find another spot
You better understand you don’t own the Land. You pay taxes to the same government which can take that land from you right now because of the fine print that you don’t understand. All land can be taking away once the government see it fits so watch out because this will blow up I’m your face in time. Word from the wise you own nothing in this devil’s run Earth. The only thing you own is your soul… period
Are they related to sweet? Set of wicked people. . Refused to give motorists a little easement by blocking the entrance through their estate. What road would they use when their entrance is blocked. Bad minded to the core
I WONDER IF THAT FAMILY REALIZE THAT THE ROAD THAT THEY ARE DRIVING ON HAD BELONGS TO SOMEBODY ELSE TOO?
That same sweet allegedly has his boat on other people’s property…They never blocked him one day
They want more water rights in exchange for giving up the road rights. Slick talking about it isn’t about money. Lmbo. They didn’t get the sea bed and water rights so that’s why they fence up. Govt need to take possession by eminent domain now!
Principle? So because I am not using my land it gives you the right to taking it without asking.
I do not understand this younger generation. I remembered government wanted to build a road through this elderly man family property, because he knew it wound benefit his family and other motorists he said yes and did not ask for any money. This road is going to benefit all. how much land so is government taking?. Disgusting.
They want to gov to pay them,they were waiting for this to happen,before the project started why didn’t they cloydi ask the gov to do something,but it seems they are going broke since things get tight in the bvi and head couch tied up,and I am sure they would ask the gov for nothing less than a 500k and if the gov pay for that land I would consider them idiots,the hill side could be shave down to accommodate the road and you don’t need both side walk,only a fool will walk on ege of the hill for a rock to roll on their head.
Going broke? Clearly you don’t know these guys! LMAO!!!!
Dumb shi* read! Or can’t you comprehend? They said it’s been going on over a year now!
Imagine they always have containers on government road like its their land, suddenly they know about boundaries.
i feel government should go with them containers that always blocking the damn road smh
when you send a boy to do a man’s job you’ll end up with problems. why was the area open up so wide like they didn’t know what they were doing.
Imminent Domain. Ayo ain’t tired eat off of the BVI Government? The tax payers done give to this one family over and over. Time ayo give back for all the freebies over decades.
shame shame shame
of course it shouldn’t be about money, head coach already took care of the part.
Much Respect to the Chalwells llll!!!
A resounding F to the VI Gov on this and everything else ,education,health,water,land ownership…..
government need this kinda of energy down on the horse track
In democracies like the BVI public benefit in regards to infrastructure(roads) ALWAYS wins over private land ownership. There may be an exchange of consideration(money) in favor of the land owner. Nevertheless government just legally condemns the land in dispute then expropriates it for the benefit of the public.
Wasn’t the previous delay on the project because they needed to re-survey the area?
Who did the survey?
No really who did the survey and who from The Town and Country Planning Department gave the OK to proceed?
This is not considered value for the Taxpayers.