Hon. Fraser Updates On Nibbs, Anegada & Nottingham Estate Lands
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour is reporting substantial progress on the granting of title deeds to residents of Nibbs Estate in Sea Cow's Bay, the island of Anegada and Nottingham Estate in East End/Long Look. An update on government's efforts in this regard was presented to the Legislative Council during the last sitting on July 28th. The question was raised by Member for the 7th District, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP).
Minister the Honourable Julian Fraser said on July 4th, 2000, his Ministry received the second supplementary report for the development of the estate from the Chairman of the Nibbs Estate Committee. He said the report advised the Ministry on the mechanism for the reallocation of some of the current residents. "Mr. Speaker, we have already begun the process of initiating the preparation of the contract documents for the first family," he told LegCo.
The Nibbs Estate Project is ongoing. Minister Fraser said lots are now being surveyed for persons to be granted freehold title. Phase 2 of the road cutting will re-commence as funds become available to facilitate the surveying and allocation of those lots. The Ministry held a meeting July 27th for all the applicants designated to receive land at Nibbs Estate, in an attempt to bring them up to date on the status of the project. Mr. Fraser said it is the Ministry's goal that by the end of 2000, persons designated to receive land will have titles to the plots that already have access roads. By the end of 2001, the remainder will have their titles.
Meantime, Executive Council has re-appointed the Anegada Lands Development Advisory Committee effective January 1st, 2000 for a period of one year. This Committee is set up to recommend to the Minister of Natural Resources and Labour who should receive titles to land based on the applications submitted to them. In addition, Executive Committee advised that a second committee be established, consisting of representatives from the Ministry of NR&L, Town & Country Planning Department, the Attorney General's Chambers and a private sector representative to be appointed by the Minister. This Committee will advise the Minister on the recommendations made by the Anegada Lands Development Advisory Committee and applications not dealt with within a reasonable time by the first committee. The appointments of the second Committee took effect June 26th, 2000. To date, the second Committee has met twice and is scheduled to meet in a few weeks to advise on land matters on Anegada, especially the airport walls, following from a recent meeting on Anegada that set out the parameters for resolution. "The grant of land titles to the people of Anegada is continuing in the area of The Settlement, as most areas have already been surveyed," Hon. Fraser reported. Regarding the survey of lands outside The Settlement, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour is recruiting three surveyors, one of whom should be appointed by September 1st, 2000. This officer will be assigned specifically to deal with Anegada lands issues to accelerate the process.
Plans are also underway to establish a Unit of three persons within the Ministry to deal exclusively with Anegada land matters. And in relation to Nottingham Estate, Minister Fraser said the sub-division is being executed in stages from as early as the 1970s. He reported that the last parcels were sub-divided and registered in July 2000. "These lots number 48 and will be awarded to applicants already on file." According to him, to date, a total of 184 crown grants were issued for the estate, of which 17 were issued between January 1999 and the present.
The Member for the 7th District, which includes Nottingham Estate, was concerned whether there were any specific measures being taken to ensure that the land is not re-sold. "It has become a major concern to residents of the immediate community," said Hon. Dr. Pickering. "In some instances, the land is actually being sold for little or nothing, so any cooperation from your Ministry will be greatly appreciated." The Minister of Natural Resources and Labour promised to refer the question to the Attorney General, provide an answer and if needs be do whatever is legally possible to rectify the situation.