Senator Alex Browne voices concern about peppercorn land grabs taking place in eastern section of Antigua

The issue of serious land grabbing is not only impacting the people
of Barbuda, but residents of mainland Antigua, as well – in
particular, the eastern section of the island.
 
Senator Alex Browne, the United Progressive Party (UPP) caretaker
for St. Phillip’s North, describes what is taking place as foolishness.
 
Browne says that investors continue to acquire lands in the area at
peppercorn prices, while locals are having difficulty to get approval
for a small piece of “the rock.”
 
He accuses the Gaston Browne Administration of neglecting the
citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda in favour of wealthy
investors.

Meanwhile, in giving an update on the situation in which
constituents of St. Phillip’s North were denied access to Laurys Bay,
Senator Browne says another access road to the beach has been
created.
 
However, he says, the entry has been moved some distance away –
closer to Devil’s Bridge than the original location.
 
While he is pleased that there is now some level of access, Browne
says the disrespect shown to the people of this country is
unbelievable and unbearable.

That was Senator Alex Browne, the United Progressive Party
caretaker for St. Phillip’s North.
 
Last year, Browne created a video showing that access to Laurys Bay
had been fenced off, apparently by a foreign national who had
purchased the land.

Browne said, then, that he was prepared to do everything in his
power to enable east-siders to get to the beach.
 
The UPP senator, who had threatened legal action, said he would not
allow access to Laurys Bay to be completely blocked off – like
other beaches in the area had been due to the construction of hotel
properties.