In a targeted address to domestic business stakeholders and landowners, Prime Minister Gaston Browne revealed that parcels of high-value coastal real estate at Pensioners Beach, Shell Beach, and a string of adjacent scenic locations have been successfully secured for tourism-focused accommodation developments, yet construction across all these sites has stalled far below initial projected timelines. Browne emphasized that holding undeveloped coastal land as a static asset delivers almost no tangible economic returns for local communities, generates no new jobs in the hospitality sector, and fails to capitalize on the destination’s surging global tourist demand. He laid out a clear call to action for local investors to prioritize the development of boutique villas and licensed short-term rental properties, segments of the tourism market that have posted double-digit revenue growth in regional peer markets over the past three years. The prime minister also extended complementary guidance to residents holding significant liquid savings in local commercial banks, noting that leaving large cash deposits idle leaves their purchasing power steadily eroded by persistent global inflationary pressures, and that redirecting a portion of those funds toward income-generating real estate and tourism assets would deliver far more resilient long-term wealth gains. Browne reaffirmed that his administration stands ready to roll out targeted support frameworks – including streamlined permitting pathways, tax incentives for eligible small-scale local developers, and targeted marketing support for new accommodation properties – for all viable, community-focused tourism projects led by domestic investors. At the same time, he issued a firm reminder to all landowners holding earmarked coastal parcels that they will be expected to take immediate, verifiable practical steps to advance construction, rather than continuing to hold land for speculative resale without productive use.
PM Browne criticises landowners for leaving tourism development sites idle
