NNP welcomes conveyances to St John residents

Leader of the New National Party (NNP) and candidate for St John in the next general election, Kemar Stuart, has welcomed the delivery of land titles to residents of Bath, St John, but questioned the timing of the long-awaited move.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY following Friday’s presentation ceremony, Stuart congratulated the 29 residents who received legal conveyances for lots they have occupied for decades and said he was “glad” that the matter had finally been resolved.

The handover follows years of advocacy and delay in realising a 2018 pledge by the Government to allow long-standing residents of Welch Village, Bath, and surrounding areas to legally purchase the land they’ve lived on under the Tenantries Freehold Purchase Act.

Although offer letters were issued to some residents, many remained without title deeds for years.

A year ago, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the conveyances were finally ready, with residents expected to pay between $300 and $696 to secure full ownership.

“Some persons waited over 20 years, so I am definitely glad for them,” Stuart said.

“I would have visited the area previously, and what I saw was that persons had an offer letter. The Member of Parliament for the area would have visited and given them the letter, and fast forward now, they actually have the title deeds. So they can go on and get mortgages and do what they have to do.”

He commended Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland and his team for their role in bringing the Bath tenantry regularisation process to near completion, but said the wait was far too long for some.

“Sorry it had to take so long. And sorry it had to come just before the election. I think these types of things need to be done for the community in general,” he said.

Stuart also called for the ministry to turn its attention to other parts of the parish where, he said, squatting remains a challenge and residents are still without proper documentation.

“I would love for more work to be done as it relates to conveyances and housing across the parish of St John,” he added.

“There are more areas where we have squatting in the constituency, so we would love that problem rectified totally.”

Friday’s ceremony at the Victory Wesleyan Holiness Church saw Minister Sutherland confirm that 111 of 115 lots at Bath have been processed, with the final four to be delivered within the next month following the resolution of surveying issues. (SM)