— The first land titles under the government’s land ownership initiative in Barbuda could begin being issued within days, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne saying the adjudication process is nearing completion.

Browne gave the update Saturday on the Browne and Browne Show after being asked about the response from Barbudans to the opportunity to own land.

The prime minister said the process had not yet been completed but indicated that the government could be about a week away from beginning to distribute the first titles.

“That is not completed as yet. I believe that we are close to completion,” Browne said.

He said his most recent update came from Sir Clare Roberts, who is heading the adjudication process.

“When I last spoke to Sir Cleo, who is head of the adjudication process, he told me two weeks,” Browne said, referring to Roberts. “I think two weeks would have elapsed, so I’ll be following that next week.”

Browne then gave his clearest indication yet of how close the process may be to producing the first titles.

“I can say that we are probably maybe, worst-case scenario, maybe a week away from starting to give the first set of titles,” the prime minister said.

The update represents a potentially significant development in the government’s longstanding push to change the system of land ownership in Barbuda.

Browne’s comments suggest that the immediate administrative focus is now on completing the adjudication process before the first set of titles can be issued.

He did not say during the discussion how many titles would be included in the first batch, identify the prospective recipients or give a specific date for distribution. His estimate of about a week was presented as a “worst-case scenario” rather than a firm deadline.

The land update came during a wider discussion about development in Barbuda, including construction of a new port on the island’s south coast and the government’s plans for road improvements.

Browne said the new port is being developed at a location considered more suitable than the existing facility, which he said sits on a sandbank and was identified as vulnerable following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

He said the new location has suitable bedrock and sufficient water depth, although some dredging will be required. The facility is expected to allow container vessels to travel directly to Barbuda instead of cargo first being unloaded in Antigua and then transshipped to the sister island.

Browne said direct container traffic should help reduce some of the costs associated with transporting goods and construction materials to Barbuda.

The government is also preparing for additional road construction on the island. Browne said about $35 million was available from the Caribbean Development Bank and that the government expected to add approximately another $20 million for new roads in Barbuda.

He said work was expected to begin later in October, adding that the necessary approvals were in place and funding was available.

The prime minister also argued that the new port could stimulate additional economic activity in Barbuda, particularly around the yachting sector.

Browne recalled seeing numerous luxury yachts offshore during a visit to Barbuda earlier this year and said the absence of proper berthing facilities had limited the island’s ability to capitalize fully on that traffic.

With the new facility, he said, Barbudans could have opportunities to provision yachts, provide excursions, handle paperwork and establish other businesses serving vessels and their passengers.

“You’re going to see an ecosystem of businesses being formed around that port,” Browne said. “In fact, you may even have a hotel there.”

He urged Barbudans to take advantage of the economic opportunities expected to emerge from the development.

Against that wider development programme, Browne’s announcement that the adjudication exercise is close to completion signals that another element of his administration’s plans for Barbuda could soon move into a new phase.

While no firm distribution date was announced, the prime minister’s latest estimate puts the possible start of the issuance of the first land titles within approximately a week.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: First Barbuda Land Titles Could Begin Being Issued Within Days, PM Says.