Skelton Backs Crown Land Allocations
At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has urged the new Crown Lands Advisory Board, chaired by Dirk Walters, to prioritise opportunities for Virgin Islanders to acquire Crown land for homes and generational wealth. His call comes amid reforms prompted by the Commission of Inquiry, which criticised past Crown land allocations for lack of transparency and recommended clearer, published rules.
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has publicly urged the newly formed Crown Lands Advisory Board, chaired by Dirk Walters, to prioritise making Crown land available to more Virgin Islanders as a means of promoting home ownership and generational wealth. Skelton said Crown land allocations helped drive development after Wickham’s Cay 1 and 2 reverted to government control and expressed hope Mr Walters will "make recommendations that will enhance the future generation of this country in terms of acquiring pieces of Nature’s Little Secret for the descendants of this country." He argued that putting land into the hands of residents stimulates economic activity as families build homes and invest locally.
The representative’s stance sits alongside reforms triggered by the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which sharply criticised the territory’s historical system for allocating Crown land. The COI found that decisions were often taken without clear published criteria, robust oversight or transparent processes, creating serious concerns about political favouritism and unfair access to public assets.
It recommended a more transparent system with clear eligibility rules for disposal. Skelton acknowledged those criticisms but warned that some of the positive social outcomes of Crown land allocations were being overlooked. "The very argument that they’re using against us, when you listen to the stories of housing in London, and certain parts of England, it’s the same thing they are doing — trying to create accommodation for citizens," he said, arguing the UK itself uses housing policy to improve welfare.
He urged the minister responsible to set a clear remit for the advisory board at its first meeting, telling officials the board’s role should include considering the long-term consequences of issuing — or not issuing — Crown land. "Their job is not just to allocate, but to understand the future consequences of issuing or not issuing Crown lands," Skelton said.
Skelton also warned that without targeted measures, many locals risk being priced out of the property market as land is sold at market rates. "Because what is happening now, people will never be able to afford some of the lands that are being sold," he said. For BVI residents, the debate underscores a key tension: how to balance the COI’s call for transparent, rule-based land disposal with policy choices that promote social housing, local ownership and economic opportunity.
The new advisory board’s recommendations, guided by the minister, will be closely watched as they shape access to Crown land going forward.
Primary source: BVI News