The processing of Alien Landholding Licence applications currently with the Ministry and Department of Lands in Anguilla has been suspended for six weeks. This is to allow the Government to carry out a review to determine the impact of such licences on the economic and social development of the island.

So states a press release issued on Thursday, February 1, following a meeting of the Executive Council on January 31. The temporary measure is aimed at reducing the number of Alien Landholding Licences which are granted annually.

The release continued: “During the six-week period, the Government, as approved by the Governor in Council, will be considering the formulation of policies and/or procedures in respect of the processing and consideration of applications for such licences.

“Further, with immediate effect, as approved by Governor in Council, the Government has suspended acceptance of any new application(s) for the following:

a) the purchase of undeveloped lots of land to build stand alone residential, vacation and/or small scale, hotel and villa projects not previously approved, as well as the purchase of undeveloped land for other proposed business ventures; and

b) the purchase of existing vacation and/or retirement homes/villas or small scale hotel and villa projects, or other existing properties or businesses not previously alienated.

“The six-week suspension also applies to applications for medium and large scale hotel and vacation real estate projects, new or existing, and to applications for the purchase of real estate other than tourism, hotel and vacation residential properties.

“The six-week suspension period for the acceptance and processing of applications, as referred to above, does not apply to parcels of land sold or leased that have been agreed and approved for development (eg Flag Luxury Properties and Viceroy) or to the sale of condominiums that have been already agreed as part of projects or have already been alienated.

“Notwithstanding the six-week suspension, as approved by the Governor in Council, the Government reserves the right to consider any application for an Alien Landholding Licence as the particular circumstances of the case may merit or as the Governor in Council may otherwise consider.

“For further information interested persons are asked to contact the Director of Lands and Surveys, Mr. Gifford Connor, Department of Lands. Telephone number 264-497-2424.”

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