Land Divestment Committee to be enshrined in Law

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said that the Land Divestment Advisory Committee (LDAC) is to be enshrined in statute.

“I will shortly take the Bill to amend the Crown Property Vesting Act to the legislative committee of Cabinet and hope to have it tabled in the House as early thereafter as possible,” he said, during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently.

He said the amendments will also outline the composition of the LDAC, its appointment and other related matters.

“With changing times, the land divestment process has also come under the microscope as we strive to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of such lands and promote prudent and sustainable land utilisation that will lead to social and economic development,” he said.  

During fiscal year 2011/2012, the LDAC processed 31 applications (including re-submissions) for divestment.

A total of 25 applications, were recommended for divestment.  Ministerial approval was obtained for 22 applications valued at approximately $112 million for sale or lease of government owned properties.

The remainder of the applications was deferred for further information/clarification as required by the LDAC, Minister Pickersgill informed.

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter