BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – In a deliberate push to reconcile national development goals with the protection of vulnerable livelihoods, the Government of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has launched a compassionate, fair land transition process that aims to support relocating agricultural workers while unlocking long-awaited homeownership opportunities for hundreds of waiting citizens.
The initiative, which reallocates land zoned for residential development away from current agricultural use, has been structured from its inception around a people-centred approach, Sustainable Development Minister Joyelle Clarke outlined in a recent address to Parliament on March 31. Clarke, who also holds portfolios for Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, stressed that the administration has rejected rushed, uncompromising relocation that would leave farmers without critical support, while still upholding the property rights of citizens who have already paid for their residential land plots.
According to Clarke, the Ministry of Sustainable Development has proactively engaged with all farmers occupying land marked for development through standardized, transparent outreach since July 2025, working to address concerns and identify solutions collaboratively. The process is already underway across three high-priority zones: Racecourse in Newton Ground, Cabbage Tree in Cayon, and Lemon Hill in Molineaux. In each site, government teams have worked one-on-one with affected farmers to craft tailored solutions, ranging from identifying suitable replacement agricultural land to providing ongoing agricultural support that preserves income stability. In at least one confirmed case, new land has already been secured for a transitioning farmer, ensuring they can continue their work without prolonged disruption to their livelihood.
The transition initiative also addresses a years-long backlog for aspiring homeowners across the federation. More than 400 individuals and families have already completed payments for their allocated residential land, and have been waiting to begin construction on their homes. The government’s structured transition clears the way for these families to move forward with their long-planned property investments, expanding access to housing for local citizens as part of the administration’s broader development agenda.
Clarke emphasized that the cross-ministerial collaboration between the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Agriculture underlying the process underscores the government’s core commitment to inclusive growth. “We are engaging the farmers to ensure we are not disrupting their livelihoods, but we are also allowing the almost 400 plus persons who have paid for their land… to move on to be homeowners,” Clarke explained, noting that the federation’s development progress will not leave any community behind.
This press release was originally issued by the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) and distributed Tuesday, April 7, 2026.