Too much Anegada land on the market — Vincent Wheatley
Ninth District Representative and Natural Resources Minister, Vincent Wheatley, has complained that there is currently too much Anegada land on the market and suggested something should be done about this.
In a meeting held with Anegada residents yesterday, October 24, Wheatley said while his commitment is to resolve the ongoing Anegada land debacle, he held some concerns.
“I was doing some research recently and what I saw I was totally appalled by because I don’t think — somehow, deep down I don’t think it was the intention of the ancestors of Anegada — that you should sell your land, and I’m seeing too much Anegada land on the open market and the prices are ridiculous.”
Wheatley suggested that continuing along this path likely meant that future generations would have no land left for themselves in Anegada.
“And the flavour of Anegada which, we cherish, I think would be lost,” he added.
I took no kickbacks
The minister also disputed reports that he took kickbacks or sold Crown lands to anyone.
“So, don’t mind all the noise – people say that I sell land to get kickbacks, I take Crown lands and gave myself. Nonsense,” said Wheatley whose Ninth District also includes Anegada.
He said he upholds the law and was keen on always following process even if it meant sometimes feeling frustrated because things take so long.
Use the land you are given to build something
He advised that once government makes land available, residents should use it for the intended purpose, which is to build.
Wheatley told the residents that building essentially has two consequences — it gives them a stake in their island and provides significant employment for others at the same time.
Wheatley said his job and his mission as minister was to empower persons through land ownership, a duty which he said he took very seriously.
The Natural Resources Minister said he intends to mirror the ongoing Joe’s Hill Housing Project — funded in part by the Social Security Board — throughout the entirety of the BVI.
The hour-long meeting held with residents was meant to address long-standing land issues, reportedly dating back to more than 50 years, in some instances.
The meeting also saw remarks from Premier Andrew Fahie, Health Minister Carvin Malone, Works Minister Kye Rymer, Deputy Speaker Neville Smith and Permanent Secretary in the Natural Resources Ministry, Joseph Smith-Abbott.
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Where do I find out about all this land in Anegada for sale?
Another l**r. He allegedly did a deal with Delta Petroleum and gave them land for nothing. Actually they paid but directly to him. The government saw nothing. He don’t like what is going on in Anegada because he hasn’t figured out how to get his d**ty hands on the money
Dem treating the anegada people like lil chayren
“something should be done about it”
Like what ?????
You want to stop people selling the land that they own if they want to???
The whole cabinet tell lies for convenience….Out wit all of them in 2023
What is he suggesting should be done? Is he planning to tell people they are not allowed to sell their land?
You can only sell if his greedy fingers in the mix. He already got a taste and he likes it. Now he want more.
Why are they giving away land if so much is available for purchase? This does not make sense. I understand folks that want to sell the land as you cannot eat land. It is worthless unless you want to use for a purpose.
And then we blame the UK and white man when it’s our leaders and own people that lack knowledge and vision!! The quick dollar will continue to be our demise.
Stop giving out any more land on Anegada.
Give money to people from Anegada to buy the land that is for sale and make it a condition of purchase that it cannot be resold but only handed down the generations.
All win, people past, people now and people in the future.
And the peoples money that is spent becomes the peoples land.
So whos buying the lands? Outsiders or belongers
Stupssssssssss. Please just “cayate tu boca”.
Climate change, rising sea level, etc. will inhibit land purchases and development on the the drowned island. Once Anegada is underwater then the Queen becomes the owner just like she owns all the surrounding reefs.
They, the people of Anegada getting the land on Anegada for little to nothing and turning around and reselling it for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Good beach front property only to be resold to people not living on the island. Foolish
Greed is killing this place, taking it to the Pit, from politicians, officials, down we have a greed pandemic in the BVI..
What business is it of his if the Anegadians sell THEIR land? It is theirs NOT HIS. So he is the self appointed land Nazi now!