The Ministry of Sustainable Development has issued a formal rebuttal against what it characterizes as malicious disinformation spread by Regiwell ‘Reggie’ Francis, Managing Director of St. Kitts Marine Works Ltd. The controversy centers on the company’s unauthorized occupation of Crown lands at the New Guinea Industrial & Commercial Development zone.
According to the Ministry’s statement released February 23, 2026, despite a cordial meeting between government officials and Francis on February 19 aimed at resolving longstanding land regularization issues, the businessman subsequently disseminated distorted information regarding the factual and legal circumstances.
The Ministry revealed that St. Kitts Marine Works Ltd has occupied approximately 26.68 acres of Crown land for nearly two decades without paying rent, additionally constructing seawall and berthing facilities on adjacent seabed without proper leases or compensation to the state. The company initially entered a land purchase agreement in January 2021 for the concessionary price of EC$6,013,893.60, but failed to fulfill the terms, paying only a partial deposit of EC$50,000.
The government’s calculations indicate the company now owes EC$13,284,092.75 as of February 2026 under the terms of the failed agreement. Furthermore, the Ministry alleges the business has encroached on sixteen adjacent commercial lots allocated to other landowners who have complied with their obligations.
In what the Ministry describes as a reasonable regularization framework, the government has proposed a 10-year renewable lease for the occupied land at negotiated rates, a separate seabed lease at EC$4,000 monthly, and application of the previous deposit toward rental payments. The proposal requires the company to vacate the unauthorized adjacent lots immediately.
The statement emphasized that Crown lands constitute public assets held in trust for citizens, and no entity is entitled to occupy them indefinitely without lawful tenure or state compensation. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, and orderly development while supporting continued economic activity.