Gov’t setting clearer Crown land distribution policy
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources Ronald Smith-Berkeley said the government is now moving towards establishing a clearer policy on the distribution of Crown lands in the territory.
Smith-Berkeley said land in the BVI is limited, therefore the government, in trying to distribute and dispose of Crown lands is creating a more formal type of arrangement.
“[We] need to do that in order to maintain transparency, to maintain accountability,” Smith-Berkeley said. “… Just to ensure that the land that we have is properly used. [This] basically means land that would be used, [and] would be needed for Crown use — for developing schools, hospitals putting road infrastructure and all that.”
The Permanent Secretary said the government wants to first ensure that lands are available and also to see how that can be made available to homeowners and persons in the agriculture and commercial industries.
He explained that the government’s new approach now ensures that there is a ‘land bank’ that catalogues available land; showing the location of available Crown lands and other details.
“That land bank will also have information in terms of who received land, at what price they paid for the land – complete transparency when it comes to the disposal of land,” he shared.
Smith-Berkeley said that it is the mandate of the government to have its new policy extensively discussed with the purpose of sensitising the community, as well as keeping persons informed about government decisions.
“This policy should be the concern of every Virgin Islander. It is important that everyone gets involved in the public discussions regarding this very important matter. We are eager to listen to your suggestions, and so we encourage you to give us your feedback, and let your individual and collective opinions be part of the final document which will be forwarded to Cabinet for final approval,” Smith-Berkeley said.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the policy also details the history of Crown Lands, an essential part of the Virgin Islands past and touches on other topics such as the first time homeownership programme, lease of commercial and agricultural land, and Crown Land application criteria.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
WHAT ABOUT THE CROWN LAND THAT VIP GIVE AWAY TO DEL.. AND SHA..?
on the main islands was surveyed and registered in the mid 20th century prior to establishment of the Land Registry.
So why in 2023(70+ years later) is a Crown Land Registry being considered. This ‘oversight’ should have been established simultaneously with the Land Registry.
The whole so-called crown land is a falsehood.
How did it become crown land”
Was it attained legally?
Was it not stolen from its owner’s time back?
How can something stolen be then turned into legal ownership?
Does colonialism and thievery trumps all worldviews of morals and ethics?
Should not the specter of colonialism and neocolonialism be eradicated permanently and forever?
Today, radicalism needs to be the new paradigm of our existence, given that the offspring of those who were subjected to servitude for centuries on the land, should become owners of same land due to length of time living on it, never gotten paid for labor done over centuries and for grave violations of other human rights.
To suggest and frown upon, along with thumbs down to the suggestions implicates a humanity of insensitivity, inhumanness of heart, mind and ungodliness’.
Without any furtherance involving colonialist mechanisms such as independence, these islands, based on historical and human facts, should be, unconditionally, handed over to the people of the Virgin Islands, along with other agreements to pay outstanding depts., owed to the survivors of the transatlantic, servitude and holocaust of the people.
Matter not today, who do not accept truth. What matters is the awakening of minds to those truths. Ask France.
Here is my thoughts on Agriculture land, it should never be bought or sold , but be given for planting food for the survival of the nation. Many who have land their plants noting, and I mean nothing. During and after covid many who plant produce was stolen during the night and broad daylight by a few who drove around there acting as if they were the owners. Those farmers need to be given the land build a small house to live and work the land. Government can dictates how the measurements can be. But agriculture should contain its self a vital part of investment in this country, if not many will move to higher ground for better life.
I applied for crown land under VIP and haven’t received anything..