Land being distributed too slow for P.M. Douglas
L.K. Hewlett
Editor – SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~ BASSETERRE, St. Kitts- St. Kitts Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Denzil L. Douglas has said that the allocation process under the Special Land Distribution Initiative is not moving as swiftly as he would like.
During his February 27 press briefing, the Prime Minister, who is also responsible for land, voiced his dissatisfaction with the pace of the process saying that only about 78 had actually received lots.
“I am afraid I do not have exact figures, however, I can say that I personally, am not totally satisfied that the pace at which the process is going is what we anticipated. We sent out a couple hundred letters confirming possible allocation, but we have found that not more than seventy-five persons have actually done their survey plans. That means that about seventy-five people or there about have actually gone to the financial houses for assistance,” he said.
P.M. Douglas said it would appear as if there was not the “speedy co-operation” that they had anticipated between those who were lending for the purchase of the lands and those who were actually borrowing.
“My Department of Lands is currently reviewing this particular initiative to better understand why very many more people have not indicated that they are involved in purchasing the [lands] and to see if there are any specific problems with banks and credit unions etcetera from which they should be obtaining the financial support in purchasing these lots.”
Despite the impediments, The Minister responsible for Land said that his government has moved to open up the new sites that had been identified at the launch of the initiative last August. He confirmed that all eight sites initially identified, with the exception of St. Pauls and Sandy Point had had full allocation letters sent out.
“I can recall that for Taylors’, letters for all ninety plus lots have been sent out and also all the lots in Cayon, letters were sent out for them. In Molyneux, most if not all the lots have had letters of allocation sent out.”
Dr. Douglas promised to have the accurate figures prepared and released to the media in a short time and encouraged interested persons to apply for any lands that may still be available.
