With land title distribution made a priority under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), said in order speed up the process, persons issued property and are yet to pay, will be on notice to pay up or lose said property. Photo: VINO

Hon Vincent O. Wheatley says delinquent land owners will have 6 weeks to pay up or lose their land. Photo: VINO/File

Hon Wheatley made the remarks at the Fourth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) yesterday, June 3, 2019, when he noted that delinquent owners will have just six weeks to pay for their land.

Pay Up – Hon Wheatley

“To speed up land distribution in the territory, I have instructed the Ministry to send out notices this week to all persons who were assigned property, but never paid a dime for it,” Hon Wheatley told the House during a 10-minute speech.

Since taking up office, Hon Wheatley has said Land title distribution is one of his priorities, “The people have been waiting too long to get land titles,” he said on the April 11, 2019, edition ‘The Big Story’ with Host Cathy O. Richards.

However, according to Hon Wheatley at yesterday’s HoA, for those who already received lands, “Be on notice, you have six weeks to pay up or I will be taking it back and giving it to someone else who is more serious about moving this country forward,” he added.

Land Committee 

Further, the Minister noted that the draft Land Advisory Committee for Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Salt Island and Tortola is completed and will be taken to the people for approval.

“There will be meetings with each community to get feedback before a final document is produced and a committee is set up,” he told the House.

The Minister had previously stated that the people should decide on who will be on the committee and will be a part of the process about their own development.

"Let them decide how they want the island to look feel and develop,” he said regarding Anegada on the Tuesday, May 21, 2019, edition of 'Honestly Speaking' on ZBVI 780am.