Distribution of Land to Begin Soon

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Saturday, 19 May 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The landless will be given priority in the queue when the government begins the distribution of about 600 plots of land, at concessionary prices, at the end of the month.

Those left holding the bag after the Antigua Labour Party’s (ALP) failed Land-for-Youth scheme are also in for a reprieve, Minister Hilson Baptiste said.

The latter group, which has been in limbo for a decade, can expect an announcement shortly, the minister said.

“Some of them paid down monies, and some paid off for lands they never had," Baptiste said. "The former administration took their money, but never gave them the land."

He noted that these people would be allocated lands in and around the North Sound area.

“We are finalizing the deal, and they can look out for a plan to come in by next month,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, speaking Tuesday night at a United Progressive Party (UPP) townhall meeting at Princess Margaret School (PMS), Baptiste said plots would be available, primarily for first-time landowners, from the end of May.

Though the plots are available across the island, land in Bendals, Wiers, and Red Hill will be on offer first.

The minister, in a subsequent interview, said the prices and the sizes would be dependent on location.

“Lands are subdivided based on topography," he said. "The shape of the land will determine the size of the lot, but the average size is 5,500 square feet. Some are bigger, some are smaller."

The minister added, “The prices are also based on location and the infrastructural needs, so that if the land is on a hill where it is difficult to put water and electricity, it would cost more than land in a flat area, but the prices range from $3.50 per square foot to $5.50."

The tone at the townhall indicated that there is the expectancy of a correlation between first-time landowners and the youth.

This caused one audience member to ask what systems are in place to ensure that the lands do not remain fallow, owing to a lack of funds to build, or the absence of haste associated with youth.

Minister of Finance Harold Lovell said the aim is for the land programme to complement the Construct Antigua & Barbuda Initiative (CABI).

Individuals who are approved by the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority administered CABI are entitled to tax relief and concessionary rates on building materials and aggregates  purchased locally, as well as reduced rates from banks, insurance companies and contractors who are registered with the programme.

Responding to the woman, Lovell said while first-time landowners would be given priority, the programme is not exclusive to them.

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