The New Democratic Party (NDP) government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has initiated an investigation into the distribution of lands by the former Unity Labour Party (ULP) government.
The investigation surrounds, in particular, 67 plots parcelled out to people just before the Nov. 27 general election.
Minister of Housing and Land Management, Andrew John, announced his government’s move to Parliament as he debated the 2026 Budget on Thursday.
John was at the time speaking about the challenge SVG faces, where the land space, both residential and agricultural, is narrowing even as his government commits to ensuring that land is available to the younger generation.
“I saw the document. Sixty-seven plots of land were arbitrarily given out just before elections,” John told lawmakers.
John said that the minister responsible for social welfare spoke about the issue and a decision has been taken “to put a hold on the passage of those lands” because “we don’t know” how they were allotted to “these people”.
“… their names were given and I was informed that there was a list of over 2,000 names that had applied … but the people who had applied were not even considered. … As a matter of fact, we can’t find the list up to now,” he said.
John said notices were sent to the people to whom land was allotted, informing them of the decision.
“We are doing an investigation and we are going to look at the way that was done,” John told lawmakers.
John said he discussed the matter with Prime Minister Godwin Friday who told him his administration has to “relook the way we do land distribution”.
He said his administration has to manage the lands available in a way that makes it “possible for our young people to own lands”, and “that’s a commitment from the government”.
John said his government has “an interest in ensuring that we don’t just talk, but we provide solid opportunities for our young people.”
Land is the basic of almost all of our lives. Everything we