NOTTINGHAM ESTATE LANDS UNDER REVIEW
It now seems unlikely that government will be able to restrict landowners in Nottingham Estate from re-selling lands in the area. Concerns were raised by residents and brought to the Legislative Council by Representative Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering that persons awarded land are re-selling at an alarming rate, most times to non-belongers.
Almost two years ago, the Long Look Lands Commission wrote to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour asking that this problem be addressed. Some months ago, the Ministry requested that the Attorney General's Chambers advise on amending the Long Look Lands Commission and Titles Ordinance Cap. 225 to prevent or restrict the recipients of land at Nottingham Estate from selling the land, especially to persons who are not deemed to be inhabitants of Nottingham Estate. "The Chambers requested that a meeting be set up with my Ministry, the Chamber and the Long Look Lands Commission, in an attempt to get a better idea of the problem," Minister of Natural Resources and Labour the Honourable Julian Fraser told the Legislative Council in a statement on Friday August 25th. He reported that two such meetings were held.
"Mr. Speaker, after numerous reminders both from the Ministry and Members of the Commission about the urgency of this issue, on July 7th, 2000, we received a memo from the Attorney General on the matter," he related. He said the Attorney General's Chambers has asked the Ministry to consider several issues.
The Ministry must consider whether once a person has obtained title to a piece of land or is in the process of granting a person title, if it would be desirable to restrict the manner in which he or she can dispose of the land or to whom it can be disposed. Secondly, if an owner were compelled to offer the land first to a resident of the area, wouldn't this deprive them of possibly a higher bid from a person who does not reside in that area? The third factor involves the need to consider that under Section 3 of Cap. 122 in proviso (a), a banker who forecloses on a mortgage does not need to hold a non-belongers licence "within a period of five years from the date of such acquisition or within such extended time (if any) as the Governor may decide to be reasonable".
"This was done to ensure not only that land is not forfeited to the Crown when foreclosure is attempted, but also to ensure that there is time to find the highest bidder," Hon. Fraser explained as per the memo from the Attorney General's Chambers. He added that further, it is likely that the ability of residents to secure financing may be adversely affected, if the banks will be restricted in selling any land on which they may foreclose. "Mr. Speaker, I will be discussing this matter further with the Attorney General and will say that if it is government's policy to so amend this Ordinance, we will move forward without delay," the Minister of Lands concluded.