Today, altogether twenty-five persons (25) from Bon Accord, Buccoo, Roxborough, Speyside and Charlotteville received Deeds for state lands at special distribution ceremony at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall.

Director, Department of Settlements – THA, Ms Tracey Ann Anthony noted that her Department’s development of a relationship with the Registrar General’s Office and the State Solicitor’s Office in Trinidad, within the last couple of years, afforded for many of these persons to now receive security of land tenure.  She added that in some cases recipients had been waiting for a Deed for over forty (40) years. The relationship which included   the placement of two persons from the THA to liaise directly and solely with the authorities in Trinidad, on behalf of the residents was crucial to this delivery of Deeds.

Chief Secretary and Secretary with special responsibility for Planning and State Lands, Hon. Orville London who was on hand to distribute the Deeds brought remarks to the gathering.   “This did not come easily….It was challenging, especially those issues which were long outstanding. There are reasons why it was not done in the last 50 years; but we were determined that regardless of the hurdles, regardless of the frustrations, this Administration was going to do it.” Mr London said.

He then congratulated the THA officers for their hard-work and diligence towards the completion of the matter.

The Chief Secretary then announced that the THA will soon be distributing more Deeds of Leases for State Lands at the Adelphi Estate to occupants and to other persons whose land status has been regularised, among others.

Additionally, Mr London reiterated the THA’s commitment to providing housing for Tobagonians, especially low income families and providing subsidies for persons to construct their first home and upgrade existing structures.  He further pointed to the Division of Health and Social Services which he said ‘has gone beyond the call of duty by paying the rentals for some disaster victims for a number of years’.

Of the twenty-five (25) deeds distributed thirteen (13) were state grants for residents at Bon Accord and Buccoo, eight (8) were for recipients of former National Housing Authority Units at Speyside and Charlotteville, two (2) for new homeowners at the Roxborough Housing Development and two (2) for  hurricane disaster victims at the Roxborough Housing Development.