Prime Minister Gaston Browne has suggested that owners of derelict buildings in St John’s and other urban areas exchange their land for rural plots, in a bid to revitalise city neighbourhoods.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Mr Browne urged absentee owners, especially those living overseas, to cooperate with the government in tackling eyesores and safety risks.
Browne Proposes Property Swaps to Tackle City Eyesores
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has suggested that owners of derelict buildings in St John’s and other urban areas exchange their land for rural plots, in a bid to revitalise city neighbourhoods.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Mr Browne urged absentee owners, especially those living overseas, to cooperate with the government in tackling eyesores and safety risks.
“We can do a swap. We can swap your parts of land in a rural area. So you don’t have to worry about upkeep. But you have a built-up area in St. John’s where people are living. You can’t expect to have your old [derelict] property creating all kinds of security and health problems for the people,” he said
The Prime Minister argued that freeing up neglected urban properties would accelerate housing construction, noting there is strong demand for residential land in the capital.
“If they can free up the land, there are many people who are looking for properties within St. John’s. I’m quite sure that we can dispose of those pretty quickly and it will help to accelerate the amount of homes that we construct,” he added.
The proposal forms part of a broader effort to improve the country’s appearance, alongside new anti-litter measures and legislation targeting derelict properties.
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Mr PM…..TAP YA SNEAKINESS!! you well know the town land costs alot more than any land you will swap with!!! And what do you think they will do with the “rural” land, not the same wutlissness as the land you swapping for? Give them time to clean up or you bruk down the property and leave it flat!!! And then within 5 years, like in other European countries, it is confiscated!!!
In the interim, would it be an idea, to see if companies or hotels etc. would like to erect hoardings at a reduced rate, to cover up eyesore wasteland and buildings etc. until matters with the owners are resolved?.
Mr.pm next month is clean up month plz send me freeland to his constituency plz done by the transport board area in herberts need to take a good look at with all the old car by the mechanic shop rat killing us i tired go solidwaste and headquarters
Mr.pm next month is clean up month plz send Mr. Freeland to his constituency plz done by the transport board area in herberts need to take a good look at with all the old car by the mechanic shop rat killing us i tired go solidwaste and headquarters
Get the chinese in to level the buildings and build housing for refugees of gaza !! The antiguan people want our place on the main stage.
Houston thats a great idea. This is what we should be doing. Pitching ideas and not being unkind
Refugees from Gaza? When so many locals here are currently in need of affordable housing? Adults are renting one room in a shared house just to have a roof over their heads. Charity begins at home. The rich Arab countries can assist the Gazeans.
I am afraid that there is ulterior motives with special comrades to swap property as was done with the Gaston family members.
It’s an entitlement project.
I hope you tackle your friend building between The nice APUA building and the Treasury building… once was the traffic night club …. Yes mr Harrigan…. That building is disgusting, Come better than that man..
This interest in the derelict buildings has nothing to do with cleaning up the place. The reason is as plain as the nose on your face. Land grab. He wants it all.
St. John’s capital really needs a face lift. The derelict building, the sidewalks that The Minister of works exposed during her tour when she was appointed to the ministry are still the same. So do whatever has to be done as long as it is done with transparency and none of the government ministers, public officials end up owing people’s property.
Sir All Saints road is even worse than what you are talking about , it is past derelict. It is the worst any main road in Antigua has ever been. The cobble stones roads were far better. I supported the increase but now have second thoughts. Since I don’t think anyone should be paying to drive on THAT.
I don’t know what the taxi drivers are saying to the tourists. Have you been to St.kitts and see roads. It is the government that allowed the road to deteriorate so badly.
Today a lone government truck , with a lone driver- looked Spanish / Cuban or from Dominican Republic dumping sugar cake in pot holes on All Saints Road just past the race track eastwards. That was a disgrace.
My take on this: The Prime Minister’s proposal to swap derelict urban lots for rural land carries merit. Revitalising the capital by addressing abandoned properties could improve safety, create housing opportunities, and enhance the overall appearance of St John’s.
However, it is essential that such exchanges be conducted transparently and fairly. Urban land carries significant value due to location and infrastructure, and owners should not be disadvantaged by being offered low-value or flood-prone rural plots in exchange.
If implemented with fairness and accountability, this initiative could indeed contribute positively to the transformation of our city. If not, it risks becoming another policy that shifts wealth away from citizens under the guise of development.
Good idea Mr. PM, please come to Skirritte Pasture they renamed it with their mouth SPANISH TOWN your wife constituency, they rent ppl Good houses add on pieces of houses at the sides or back with old board and rent it or bars making noise all night we can’t sleep the roads block with old cars not even the garbage truck can pickup garbage so they all come and drop it at the corner, beer bottles everywhere our property values down to nothing Mrs. Browne please help us.
Hope they do it by value not square footage, and yes…start by the Spanish town
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