Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Government seeks to resolve claims to ancestral lands

Government seeks to resolve claims to ancestral lands

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent Wheatley is encouraging partnerships to move forward amicably in relation to resolving historical claims to ancestral lands following a meeting with the Anegada Advisory Lands Committee (AALC).
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Mr. Joseph Smith-Abbott met with members of the committee on Wednesday, June 9 to discuss the best way forward.

Honourable Wheatley said, “Claims and disputes to ancestral lands has been an issue for quite some time and I have rectified quite a few of these issues since coming into office. This is an ongoing matter that will take some time. The ministry and I are committed to rectifying and resolving as much as we can to ensure that these lands are distributed to their rightful owners, we will be working closely with the AALC on these matters.”

Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Smith-Abbott said the ministry is reaffirming its commitment to the process of resolving claims to the ancestral lands and looks forward to the partnership with the committee going forward.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the AALC for the opportunity to meet with them and discuss the best feasible way to move forward together, this partnership will be crucial to resolving this and any other issues that may arise in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Anegada Advisory Lands Committee, Mr. Gregory Levons said his committee is in support of the partnership with the ministry. He added, “I am also happy just to know that they got the chance to meet with some of the residents of Anegada to hear firsthand of what they are going through for over 100 years.”

Mr. Levons added, “We are hoping to come up with solutions as to get these existing situations dealt with. This will make Anegadians happy just to know that they are finally getting their rightfully owned lands. Let’s make this happen.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration continues to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that is ensures long term sustainability.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
×