Govt acquires more land for housing and commercial use for Nevis population: Brantley

Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) led Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is making several places of land across the island available to the people of Nevis for their residential and commercial purposes. The announcement has been made by the Foreign Minister of SKN and Premier of Nevis Mark Brantley and stated that the land is being made available to the general people at an affordable price.

While informing about the steps of the government at his monthly press conference Mark Brantley said that the number of lands are being sold at Morgans' Estate at $6 per square foot and also acquired more land, which is of six acres that will be divided into Modern Estate. The government is also preparing the subdivision of lands opposite the Drag Strip which would be used for leasing for commercial and industrial purposes.

He further explained, "People have the question that why the government is purchasing land. Nevis has thousand of acres of land that is unoccupied and undeveloped literally, but it is in private hand, so our focus is make available more to our nationals".

Brantley also outlined that the two developments, one at Hamilton and the other at Upper Craddock Road, have been possible only when the government bought land from private players.

"However, it is much more expensive to firstly acquire the land and then make it available for housing than to having the land already owned by the government and available to develop the house, so it is an issue, but as a government will fulfil their responsibility and that's why we are acquiring land," underscored Brantley.

Minister for Land and Housing, Deputy Premier Alexis Jeffers, also outlined the importance of citizens' opportunity to own houses. In addition to the benefits of homeownership, the construction of residences, he explained that it would create widespread economic spinoff concerning creating employment from the surveying and clearing stages to architectural designs, construction and landscaping.

He spoke to the housing revolution happening on the island where the NIA, through the Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation (NHLDC), has seven housing developments underway at the same time, with a total of over 100 lots.