Not the ministry! Establish central entity to manage land distribution
A recent report submitted to the Governor’s Office has recommended that the Ministry of Natural Resources no longer receive applications for Crown land and for that responsibility to be transferred to an independent authority.
This recommendation was made in a document titled Virgin Islands Crown Lands Distribution Policy Review Report that was drafted in January 2023.
Under the constitution, the Minister of Natural Resources has responsibility for administering Crown lands. But, the review found that, unlike the several estate committees that exist to assist with land applications, “there is no written policy that the minister follows when awarding land.
For that reason, the report which was drafted by David Abednego, recommended that there be one central entity that is responsible for receiving and vetting applications for the use of Crown Land.
“It is recommended that a National Estate Committee be established which may be responsible for receiving and vetting applications for the use of Crown lands. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour will no longer directly receive applications for the use of residential land and commercial lease arrangements. The proposed Committee, with the exception of the Anegada Advisory Lands Committee, will take the place of the various individual land committees [that currently exist].
The proposed Committee will interact directly with another proposed body — the Crown Land Authority — to support the land disposal decision-making process, the report stated.
It further explained that the proposed Crown Land Authority would monitor, control and manage the disposal process of Crown land.
“This new body would takeover the function and duties of Wickham’s Cay Development Authority and be empowered with a wider mandate. It is important to state that the Authority would not have ownership of Crown land but instead, it would have the responsibility for monitoring, controlling and managing,” the report explained.
The reported added that, with a view to ensure the protection of Crown land, the Crown Land Authority should be empowered with enforcement powers and these powers should be exercised by designated officers of the Authority.
The report said the Authority would, therefore, be required to have established systems such as a strict schedule for the monitoring of compliance as it relates to payments, usage, and development of Crown land within a prescribed timeline.
Other enforcement systems should include policies preventing resale (flipping) etc., with clear penalties for lack of compliance; forfeiture procedures where an applicant fails to develop within an allotted period; implementation of a buy-back clause where the awardee is seeking to sell his/her awarded land; and instituting a penalty of one to 2.5 percent if persons sell within a specified time frame after being awarded.
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not another board! Please!
No more boards please. Let’s have the civil service do their job, and fire those that can’t.
Why does this article include an ancient photo of Cane Garden Bay? Maybe because the old photos look more like nature’s little secret instead of a poorly developed Miami beach?
SO, who will be on the boards, the Governors cronies??? Then BVIslanders would NEVER get their rightful land. NO MORE RED TAPE!!! Hold those accountable to do the job they are paid to do!!! It’s cheaper this way. #ecomonics
Sincerely,
Concerned Virgin Islander
So basically y’all locals on VG and Total ain’t getting sh!t anymore. The devils in the UK playing chess while you crabs in a barrel locals cutting each other down playing checkers.
There was no wrong doing by Hon. V Wheatley. It is difficult for that calling for UK intervention when we have many people capable of over sight in the BVI as well as the Carribean . It is condescending to think only the UK has the ability for oversight and frankly makes the motives suspect and certainly those advocating it.