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Thomas family in no active land negotiations despite Premier’s claims- Thomas-Griffith
Thomas-Griffith was at the time making a guest appearance on 107.9 FM The Vibe in St Thomas, USVI on Friday, May 10, 2024.
She said since the family presented an offer of $4.00 a square ft to the land in August of 2023, “although the premier continues and have repeated this as a sound bite, I say almost, that he's in active negotiations with the family. That is absolutely not occurring.
“What I know is that when I wrote to the Premier in August of 2023, I have not yet received a response to that letter to this day… That is a letter that told the BVI government...we're allowing the government to continue to have access to this land. We have other suitors that are interested in this land and we continue to just stand down because we really want to see this activity continue,” she said.
Family wants to see legacy of Ellis Thomas continue - Mrs Thomas-Griffith
Mrs Thomas-Griffith said the family wants to see the legacy that her father has established in horse racing continue.
She said the family has even proposed a lower rate than $4.00 in an effort to save horse racing; however, there has to be an acknowledgement that there is a value to land in 2024 that is not commensurate with anything in the cents.
“Not $0.31, not $0.40, not $0.64. None of those things will be a fair representation of the value,” she said while adding that the Government has a choice.
“The BVI government has a choice, they have a choice if the value of land is more than they're willing to pay for it. At $4.00 or $2.50 they are free to pursue their options elsewhere, to consider the activity they want to advance,” Mrs Thomas-Griffith detailed.
Premier Wheatley has not responded to our request for a comment on the claims by Mrs Thomas-Griffith.
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43 Responses to “Thomas family in no active land negotiations despite Premier’s claims- Thomas-Griffith”
The government was trying to be shady and it backfired, even then the said we’ll take 2.50 I don’t how much more of a discount you want mehson.
Yall too greedy. Everything is about money for Yall.
Learn to appreciate the value of property because these can pass down for generational wealth.
Rents for the smartest offices in Road Town are about $40 per square foot. This is undeveloped agricultural land in sea cows bay.
The Government should pull out of the negotiations and let them discover that nobody else is interested in renting it.
We need to stop subsidising the horse owners. If they want to be to own and race horses, then let them pay for it themselves. It is not something that the Government should be paying for.
The horse track will be better to fix then the music festival. horse racing will happen every month music festival is only ones a year. Fix the track it will have more work no the island
Read for yourself, the crown lands management bill that the premier called an “esteemed” bill says:
Allocation of Crown Lands for Commercial use
30. (1) Crown Lands suitable for commercial use or development SHALL ONLY be made available on a leasehold arrangement at MARKET RATES and may be granted to companies or individuals.
Yes we all have to go and leave everything here. HOWEVER, while we are here, people should be treated fairly for what is theirs or just leave them alone. Premier wants fair market rates for crown lands but want to give next to nothing for the Thomas Family land. Give them what you have put in the Crown Lands bill - market rates!!! Or shut up and tell the people you won’t support horse racing any more like the woman said.
mek may puke .