Welches Village, one of the smallest communities in Anguilla, may see population and development growth in the coming years. This is according to statements made in the House of Assembly.
The development is likely to result from a road diversion – and the subsequent use of an area of land located in the approach to, and down from, Sal Hill. The availability of the land use has been facilitated by a Motion passed in the Anguilla House of Assembly on September 25, 2020. The measure is called: “Financial Administration and Audit (Remission) Gloria Fleming) Regulations, 2020.”
Speaking on the Motion, Premier Dr. Ellis Webster, told the Assembly: “This is a land matter which has been going on for a certain period of time; and we feel, having met and discussed this in Executive Council, as the Government of Anguilla, that it should be progressed.” Accordingly, he requested the Speaker, Mrs. Barbara Webster, to allow the Minister of Home Affairs and Lands, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, to elaborate on the matter.
Mr. Hodge spoke about the motion as follows: “The property in this Motion refers to lands owned by Mrs. Gloria Fleming (deceased) in the Welches/Cannifist area, situated in Registration Section East Central Block 89216B, described as Parcel 264. The matter surrounds a portion of the public road and the payment of taxes to the Crown.
“As some persons may be aware, the original public road ran through the land to the east of the current road that leads to Welches – the said land belonging to Mrs. Fleming and her husband – who is also deceased.
“The old road measured 0.53 of an acre. The old road has been condemned and re-located to the current road running through Welches, some 40-plus years now. The new road now takes up 0.94 of an acre of Mrs. Fleming’s land.
“In or around May, 2019, the Executive Council granted permission to proceed with the Financial Administration and Audit Act, and a Motion was previously tabled at this Honourable House.
“Mr. Devon Fleming, Snr, is the sole heir of the estate. He applied to the court for a grant of Letters of Administration. However, in October 2019, the said grant was denied by the court. An application had to be re-submitted for the grant to the court. The grant was thereafter approved in May 2020.
Mr. Fleming, Snr, as agreed by the Government and Mr. Fleming, will transfer the road measuring 0.94 of an acre to the Crown and the Crown will transfer to Mr. Fleming the portion of the existing public road, measuring 0.53 acres currently running through the estate.
“Also, in consideration of this, Mr. Fleming, Snr, will forgo any entitlement to monies from the Crown for use of the current public road over the past 40 years. In addition, Mr. Fleming has agreed to transfer to the Crown an additional acreage of 0.4 of an acre to set off against the transfer and registration fees or as is proportionate against the monies he owes the Crown to complete the registration of title.
“The Valuation Section in the Department of Lands has reviewed the valuation of the land based on the assessment that was made pursuant of a court order for a settlement of monies owed. The Valuation Section is of the opinion that the same is within the reasonable tolerance based on consideration past.
“Therefore, the Government, in this Motion, will remit taxes in the amount of $89,918.64 EC for stamp duty, estate fees and registration fees conditionally upon the transfer of the land situated in Registration Section East Central Block 89216B, Parcel 264 (part of) comprising 0.40 of an acre, valued at $38,641.22 EC and 0.53 of an acre valued at $51,277.42 EC to the Crown.
“This transaction will, in turn, generate additional revenue to the Government of Anguilla from sales of the sub-divided parcels – that is stamp duty charges, planning fees and building permits, to name a few, besides other revenue generators on the registration of title to Mr. Fleming, Snr. Things like roads will be developed and buildings will be constructed. In other words, it will be generating some significant economic activity.”
During the debate, former Minister of Lands, Mr. Evans Rogers, now an Opposition Member, supported the Motion. He said there were a lot of similar land matters elsewhere in Anguilla. He made the point that the exchange of lands was critical in terms of moving Anguilla forward. “It is an exchange of land in lieu of taxes and other remittances and so it balances out, so to speak,” he explained.
Mr. Rogers added: “As the Member so rightly indicated, with this transaction, it opens up the possibility and the opportunity for further development… It is a beautiful location in the Sal Hill/Welches area where, I am sure, that once there is access to the lands, sub-divisions will take place. As a result of that, development of various homes and other things will result. I stand in full support of this Motion, Madam Speaker.”
Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, also supported the Motion. She stated that Anguilla was one of few countries where the land was not owned by the Crown – and in fact by Anguillians in their individual rights.
“That, of course, creates difficulties when it comes to Government wanting to accomplish certain things that require large lots of land – such as affordable housing for our people,” she continued. “In a place where Anguillians may be land rich, they may be money poor in certain circumstances. I believe it behoves the Government of Anguilla to be able to find and accommodate ways in which we can allow persons to continue to survive – whether it be personal urgent needs to be addressed.”
She recalled that a similar Motion came before the House of Assembly during her time in Government. She said that Motion was fully supported because “it allowed land that would not, otherwise, be freed up and to be fully utilised.” She added that the land in the Welches location was one of the beautiful areas in her District 2 constituency.
