Skelton backs Crown land approach criticised by COI
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has urged the new Crown Lands Advisory Board to ensure more Virgin Islanders can acquire land, arguing that Crown land has long been tied to family stability, home ownership and generational wealth in the BVI.
Speaking on the appointment of Dirk Walters as chairman of the new board, Skelton said Crown lands allocations helped drive development after Wickham’s Cay 1 and 2 reverted to government control.
“I pray and hope Mr Walters will make us all proud and make recommendations that will enhance the future generation of this country in terms of acquiring pieces of Nature’s Little Secret for the descendants of this country,” Skelton stated, adding that past leaders sought to get crown lands into the hands of more people.
But Skelton’s recommendation sits awkwardly beside reforms triggered by the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which sharply criticised the territory’s historical Crown land distribution system. The COI found that Crown land allocation had become vulnerable to abuse because decisions were often made without clear published criteria, robust oversight, or transparent processes. That environment created serious concerns about political favouritism and unfair access to public assets.
As a result, the COI recommended a more transparent system with clear eligibility rules for the disposal of crown lands.
Simply put, the COI did not outlaw Crown lands being granted to Virgin Islanders. What it effectively outlawed was the old politically influenced method of deciding who got access. That makes Skelton’s call for the board to actively think about broader social outcomes politically sensitive.
But Skelton said the UK threw out the entire process without recognising the positive benefits. In fact, he said the UK has similar policies that seek to use housing to improve the welfare of its citizens.
“The very argument that they’re using against us, when you listen to the stories of housing in London, and certain parts of England, it’s the same thing they are doing — trying to create accommodation for citizens. Here we are giving crown lands, and our citizens have to go and build a house. So it creates a lot of economic activity,” the veteran legislator explains.
He urged the government to encourage the new advisory board to look out for the interests of Virgin Islanders.
“I hope the minister will communicate that in his first meeting with the committee, that their job is not just to allocate, but to understand the future consequences of issuing or not issuing Crown lands,” Skelton said.
He warned that without intervention, many locals could be priced out of the property market entirely. “Because what is happening now, people will never be able to afford some of the lands that are being sold,” he argued.
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What is done on the UK is not the same as here! Stop spreading propaganda and lies. Crown land distribution here has been tilted towards the political elites – just look at the crown land surrounding TPP. Look around town and survey which past and present governments political affiliates own prime crown lands!
I am 50 yrs old and have been trying to get a piece of crown land for commercial development and have had no success. Ronnie you have been part of the problem and I sense you want the status who to remain unchallenged and unchanged. You were the one who started the Seniors residential project Spooners Estate – how did that work out for yah!!! Waste
The gentleman is just trying to stay awake
WHICH POLITICIAN HAS CROWN LANDS ON EVERY ISLAND IN THE BVI? GUESS WHO.
they say the skelton dem got more land than the government
The entire Crown Lands Unit within the Ministry of Natural Resources is a sh*t show with TJ daughter doing what she feels like and Berkeley too busy in the church to study anything.
Too many of the Government employees are sitting in their offices and doing nonsense.
You are a PUBLIC SERVANT. Not there to serve yourself.
Ronnie enough land to give every local in the bvi and still have left over lol. Where he going with all them land? To hell with the rest of we who saving to buy land? Guess them going to friends and family. Must be nice to born in the elite group fr.
I always smile when I see politicians offsprings finish school and land a job immediately in government. Them life been secured from birth. While many bvi Landers who are not so lucky has to pay their way through education only to come back and apply year after year with no success.
What nonsense is this? Do you want Ronnie to give you his land? Why do we always miss the point or pretend to do so?
It sounds like somebody failed sone of us and we are now bitter. Where there is no vision, the people will perish. Seems like some people had a vision and others had none. Check out where the parents of some we now deem elites rise from and stop envy people. They worked their hands to the bones, to safeguard their families.
All of us will die leaving our possessions. It’s for us enjoy while we live. God helps those who help themselves.
Why hasn’t TCP and the regulations changed/updated for certain areas of land to be protected under leasehold vs freehold legislation? This is done in mature countries the world over. Even for private lands there should be conditions that these areas of lands not just be sold in perpetuity to non-domiciles and foreign companies!
Time to wake up! We cannot continue to reclaim land and find other prime pristine real estate for the measly prices that some go for. There I said it. Marinate on that sauce!