On Tuesday, August 27, His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce officially assented to the Crown Lands Management Act, a significant piece of legislation that establishes clear criteria and processes for the disposal and leasing of Crown Lands in the British Virgin Islands.
The Act is designed to ensure that decisions regarding Crown Lands are made transparently and in the public interest. The new law fulfills the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendation B30, which was in response to the Review on Crown Lands published in January 2023.
During the second reading of the bill on May 28, 2024, then Acting Premier Honourable Kye Rymer emphasized that the legislation aims to strengthen the administration and stewardship of public lands, particularly Crown Lands.
Rymer highlighted that the Act is intended to facilitate sustainable development across residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors while also promoting economic growth, safeguarding the environment, and enhancing social stability. Additionally, he noted that the Act places increased responsibility on the government to manage public infrastructure effectively and enforce regulations concerning derelict vehicles and boats on public roads.
The legislation also introduces a dynamic land use plan that will be subject to periodic revisions and establishes a Crown Land Bank to efficiently administer and repurpose land resources.