By Ketricia Finch
St. Kitts Reporter
It was announced in a Post Cabinet meeting recently that the government will soon offer for sale 5000 lots of land in 24 locations on St. Kitts. Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Sustainable Development, Information and Technology, Nigel Carty mentioned in the meeting that the Land Sales Office has already been established and additional staff has been mobilized so that the distribution can run smoothly come August 6, 2007.
The Observer took to the streets to find out persons’ views regarding the distribution system.
Do you think the process is beneficial to persons who apply for land or house?
Richard Graham, New York – Money has a lot to do with it. Once you have money, you would get through faster and people who don’t have the money would have to wait years and years and years. Connections have a lot to do with it as well. Once you have someone in high rank, that goes a long way. I think there should be a change in the system.
Oral Nisbett, Tabernacle – The distribution is not fair. I don’t believe nobody should go to no politician for no land. I really do believe that. People should get land through an independent system because it is due to the citizens of this land. There must be a better way. Going through a minister for a piece of land is stupidity. I asked them the question, “What are the criteria to get a piece of land?” on the forum. The National Housing Committee (NHC) only talks. Eventually the situation would reach the minister. He would have the final say. It happened to me and I do not like it.
Threads, Turtle Beach – The system is fair. I think it is about 80 percent fair because nothing is foolproof. There is a flip side to the coin where a lot of people would just apply because they can simply get. Payment is a different issue because I might be able to apply and not be able to pay in time, however government has a policy where they gave people a lot of time to pay.
People out there who could afford to pay would be saying, ‘Oh why they give x and not give y and y could afford it.’ Also poor people could say why you give him that small piece of land and he could afford more. Everybody can not expect to apply and get what they want. That’s human nature, that’s natural. This is a new project and I am hoping that it gets even more fair than previous.
Fredrick Douglas, Marshall Alley – What they want to do they do. I put in for a house and they said I am old. The majority of people I know applied for land or house did not get. They give some young girl and others. They live in them and not paying rent.
Ratty, Sandy Point – I think the system is fair because I get my land that I applied for. I can’t tell for other people. I get my land in Sandy Point right where I’m presently living.
Rosalie Edwards, Sandy Point – I never applied for land or house so I can’t say whether the system is fair or not. I don’t know of any family or friend who applied for land or house either although I heard some people say they applied and they didn’t get and others who say get but give it back. It’s just politics and I don’t really get caught up in them things.
