Some Anegada homes without utilities four years after construction
Several Anegada residents have been unable to occupy homes they completed about four years ago because they lack access to basic utilities, former Chairman of the Anegada Land Development Advisory Committee Darrell Ruan Jr has disclosed.
Ruan said the affected homes were built on family lands, known locally as “wild paddocks”, but unresolved land matters have prevented the owners from securing water and electricity connections.
“Right now, I could speak on several young people who have built homes and can’t move into them because they don’t have no water,” Ruan stated during the Honestly Speaking radio programme this week.
He said the former advisory committee approved the residents’ land applications and forwarded them to the relevant authorities. Ruan identified three affected applicants whom he believed were among approximately 60 persons whose corrected applications were expected to move forward.
“So hopefully that could be rectified very shortly,” Ruan said.
Ruan explained that he recently advocated for one of the affected homeowners and was advised that a letter could be submitted to the BVI Electricity Corporation explaining the circumstances and requesting what he described as an emergency connection.
“As of today, we have not heard back. This was about two weeks ago,” Ruan stated.
The disclosure follows longstanding complaints that delays in resolving Anegada land ownership and issuing deeds have restricted residents’ access to essential services.
During a constitutional reform consultation on Anegada earlier this year, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley acknowledged that residents who could not obtain deeds were also unable to secure electricity and water connections. He said the government intended to ensure that residents received deeds so they could access utilities, financing and opportunities to develop their properties.
Ruan said no one on Anegada builds outside a family’s wild paddock unless the property is in a commercial area covered by a family land claim.
He said he had also raised the utility difficulties with government ministers but, as of the interview, the affected residents were still awaiting a resolution.
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Those circumstances wouuld actually make it a great opportunity to try an “off-grid” lifestyle.
Believe you me, if one of those homes were mine, I WILL BE living in it, government utility or not.
Id figure something out
Sorry, but anyone building now should build a cistern for water, plus have some sort of solar power.
no these people do not want to pay BVIEC neaRLY $20K to be linked to the gris and its a requirement for planning that a cistern be built for every home.
exactly, if BVIEC cant hook you up to the grid as they can any home on main island then its your right to go alternative and never deal with them jokers
Sorry if I offend anyone with my comment but the Anegadians need to update their approach to land ownership on that island. These are modern times, people get their own deeds to their own property and not rely on “family lands” which is always subject to disputes.
Each person who wants to build should get a plot surveyed and seek to get clear title to it. This thing about Wueen Victoria gave them land in 1885 is a waste of time, whether true or not. You can’t continue generation after generations holding on to this idea that’s getting you nowhere.
I have to wonder where the backbone of these men gone to since Theidolph Faulkner’s time. He had to come and demand change, nothing is gained by sitting in committees with a fancy title year after year begging and complaining for lands to be given title. Get yourselves together and state out the property you occupy and come to the Governor with it. Stop taking knockabout from your own people. Get yourselves together and deeds and get electricity and water as taxpayers you deserve the public utility services. This nonsense been going on too long man.
Because the homes were illegally built without planning permission.