LAND MEETING ON ANEGADA WELL ATTENDED

- Minister for Natural Resources and Labour the Hon. J. Alvin Christopher led a Government delegation to meet with residents on Anegada on October 13 at the Emile E. Dunlope Community Centre to discuss the development and distribution of land on the sister island.

Other members of the team were Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mrs. Sheila Brathwaite, Chief Surveyor Mr. Scott Baggie and other senior officers from the Ministry.

Persons came from St.Thomas and St. John in the United States Virgin Islands and as far away as New York, USA to fill the community centre, making it standing room only.

Mrs. Brathwaite welcomed the large crowd that filled the community centre and stated that Anegada could be used as a model for the development of small islands.

The Minister supported this by saying he hopes that the meeting will help chart a clear direction for the development of Anegada. He said it is his desire that the island should have its “rightful place” as one of the main contributors to the BVI’s overall development. Mr. Baggie made a presentation on a proposed development scheme for the island and invited feedback on the proposal. He said he hoped the feedback would provide him with better ideas on how to deal with the land issues on Anegada.

The Minister encouraged the audience to be open and not to be afraid to express their feelings about future plans for Anegada.

In response, residents made recommendations such as the desire for the Minister to return to Executive Council to review the June 4 decision taken on the allocation of Anegada lands. They also raised concerns about the main roads to be developed on the island and the relocation of the proposed new airport, and requested that the Ministry conducts an investigation into the allocation of lands on the island over the past two years. A new Anegada Lands Committee is expected to be formed shortly. In this regard some person at the meeting were nominated to this committee.