Land reform: SVG is for Vincy and our guests 4/9/2016
There is no changing the geographic realities of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), which are:
1. St Vincent and the Grenadines is a very small country with limited amount of land space.
2. St Vincent and the Grenadines has no exportable natural, industrial and other minerals.
3. Geographically, we (St Vincent and the Grenadines) are poorly situated in relation to international markets.
The foregoing is St Vincent and the Grenadines’ reality, and this make it extremely difficult for us as an island nation to compete with most countries that are fighting for a share of the international market to ensure the county’s producers of agricultural and other products are compensated for their skill, hard work and their investment.
When we consider these conditions, it seems like St Vincent and the Grenadines is a permanent underdog and the possibility of St Vincent and the Grenadines ever reaching a place on the world scene where we can be an economic force to be reckoned with appears bleak or very close to impossible.
Since I was a teenager I have recognized a troubling practice that was developing among mid-size land owners and in order to help St Vincent and the Grenadines maintain some level as sustainability, I try to make my thoughts known. So I wrote a letters to Madam Nora Peacock, the then editor of the Vincentian newspaper, the only newspaper on the island then. Madam Peacock saw some value in my opinion and caused that letter to be published in the said paper.
I also made a contribution to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio 705) Search Light radio program. This was SVG’s first live interactive radio show or call in radio program. This program was hosted by prominent lawyer Mr Parnell R. Campbell, where I suggested that St Vincent and the Grenadines implement land zoning regulation, to try and curb the growing trend; however, Mr Campbell dismissed that idea as it “will have many legal complications”.
That was more than 25 years ago. This though came, because I noticed a trend developing where families will construct homes on prime agriculture land; lands which had easy access to water, that had extremely fertile soil, and has ready access to roads. Large lots of land where farming was conducted were subdivided into multipurpose use, such as residential, commercial and agriculture. That meant:
1. The area of fertile land to facilitate the agricultural process was being vastly reduced.
2. Domestic waste, which include fecal matter, was now closer to the agricultural operation and can impact on the growing, harvesting and the packaging of the food product for the market or for shipping.
4. The reduction of agricultural land will vastly impact the quantity as well as quality of product that could be produce.
5. Give rise to infestation of the crop with alien and new diseases that will affect the crops.
6. We have encouraged conditions that can disqualify our produce from being accepted on the open international market
In an island or country that is as small as ours that has limited land space and a growing population; it is important that the leaders consider land reform, which goes hand in hand with land zoning. As the population grows, it become more difficult to house the people of the nation, and it becomes extremely difficult to feed the nation.
Small islands like ours (St Vincent and the Grenadines) with no exportable natural industrial mineral or precious stones and limited land space, must be mindful of the vulnerable situation we are in. It is foolish to give away vast amounts of the limited land to foreigners in the name of hotel development.
I know with the high level of incompetence that is found in today’s politicians, who are parading as being intelligent degree holders, but are void of any meaningful development plans, are desperate to try and give the populace the impression that they are doing something for the development of the nation. But their limited vision and lack of plans have led them down the shameful path of prostituting St Vincent and the Grenadines in the form of land sharing to white oppressive foreign investors.
Therefore, In the future I will be forced to either refuse to renew the lease or utilize “Eminent Domain” to reacquire the property which was leased to those hotel investors who have been poor corporate partners with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, I will also ensure fair legislation is drafted and enacted to ensure that the country’s lands are properly utilized and are properly zoned.
2. St Vincent and the Grenadines has no exportable natural, industrial and other minerals.
3. Geographically, we (St Vincent and the Grenadines) are poorly situated in relation to international markets.
The foregoing is St Vincent and the Grenadines’ reality, and this make it extremely difficult for us as an island nation to compete with most countries that are fighting for a share of the international market to ensure the county’s producers of agricultural and other products are compensated for their skill, hard work and their investment.
When we consider these conditions, it seems like St Vincent and the Grenadines is a permanent underdog and the possibility of St Vincent and the Grenadines ever reaching a place on the world scene where we can be an economic force to be reckoned with appears bleak or very close to impossible.
Since I was a teenager I have recognized a troubling practice that was developing among mid-size land owners and in order to help St Vincent and the Grenadines maintain some level as sustainability, I try to make my thoughts known. So I wrote a letters to Madam Nora Peacock, the then editor of the Vincentian newspaper, the only newspaper on the island then. Madam Peacock saw some value in my opinion and caused that letter to be published in the said paper.
I also made a contribution to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio 705) Search Light radio program. This was SVG’s first live interactive radio show or call in radio program. This program was hosted by prominent lawyer Mr Parnell R. Campbell, where I suggested that St Vincent and the Grenadines implement land zoning regulation, to try and curb the growing trend; however, Mr Campbell dismissed that idea as it “will have many legal complications”.
That was more than 25 years ago. This though came, because I noticed a trend developing where families will construct homes on prime agriculture land; lands which had easy access to water, that had extremely fertile soil, and has ready access to roads. Large lots of land where farming was conducted were subdivided into multipurpose use, such as residential, commercial and agriculture. That meant:
1. The area of fertile land to facilitate the agricultural process was being vastly reduced.
2. Domestic waste, which include fecal matter, was now closer to the agricultural operation and can impact on the growing, harvesting and the packaging of the food product for the market or for shipping.
4. The reduction of agricultural land will vastly impact the quantity as well as quality of product that could be produce.
5. Give rise to infestation of the crop with alien and new diseases that will affect the crops.
6. We have encouraged conditions that can disqualify our produce from being accepted on the open international market
In an island or country that is as small as ours that has limited land space and a growing population; it is important that the leaders consider land reform, which goes hand in hand with land zoning. As the population grows, it become more difficult to house the people of the nation, and it becomes extremely difficult to feed the nation.
Small islands like ours (St Vincent and the Grenadines) with no exportable natural industrial mineral or precious stones and limited land space, must be mindful of the vulnerable situation we are in. It is foolish to give away vast amounts of the limited land to foreigners in the name of hotel development.
I know with the high level of incompetence that is found in today’s politicians, who are parading as being intelligent degree holders, but are void of any meaningful development plans, are desperate to try and give the populace the impression that they are doing something for the development of the nation. But their limited vision and lack of plans have led them down the shameful path of prostituting St Vincent and the Grenadines in the form of land sharing to white oppressive foreign investors.
Therefore, In the future I will be forced to either refuse to renew the lease or utilize “Eminent Domain” to reacquire the property which was leased to those hotel investors who have been poor corporate partners with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, I will also ensure fair legislation is drafted and enacted to ensure that the country’s lands are properly utilized and are properly zoned.
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