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Turnbulls to receive compensation for land encroachment after 47 years – Dr Wheatley

- Gov't agrees to pay family for land encroached by Enis Adams Primary School
The Government of the Virgin Islands has agreed to compensate the Turnbull family of Meyers Estate, Tortola, nearly 50 years after the Enis Adams Primary School encroached on their property. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) looks at the plaques displayed at the Enis Adams Primary School in recognition of the benefactors and contributors of the school. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) looks at the plaques displayed at the Enis Adams Primary School in recognition of the benefactors and contributors of the school. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Turnbull family of Myers Estate on Tortola will be compensated by the Government of the Virgin Islands, nearly 50 years after the Enis Adams Primary School encroached on their property, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said.

“Mr Speaker, the building of Enis Adams Primary School decades ago encroached on private property belonging to the Turnbull family,” Dr Wheatley explained at the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Friday, October 17, 2019.

He said while there was an agreement to pay the family for the use of the land, records indicate that this family was not paid between the years 1972 and 2019.

“[So] we resolved to solve this longstanding issue by agreeing to pay the family, appropriate compensation for the land,” he pointed out.

‘Gov’t of fairness & solutions’

According to Dr Wheatley, the government he is a part of is one of fairness and finding solutions.

He added that the acquisition of the property at Meyers Estate brings to rest a longstanding issue, and the government, the Turnbull family, and the community can be at peace. 

“This matter that has existed for 47 years has now been solved by this unconventional government,” Dr Wheatley added.

“This, Mr Speaker, is a victory for the students of the Enis Adams Primary School—past, present, and future—and a victory for the people of the Virgin Islands,” he noted.

The Minister did not disclose how much the Turnbulls will receive, but he mentioned a plaque recognising the contribution of the Turnbull family is now displayed at the school. 

The Enis Adams Primary School was destroyed by Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 but was recently rebuilt by Peter Haycraft, the former majority owner of Road Town Wholesale Ltd.

26 Responses to “Turnbulls to receive compensation for land encroachment after 47 years – Dr Wheatley”

  • GREED (29/10/2019, 09:25) Like (56) Dislike (24) Reply
    People too greedy look how Haycraft build the school for free yet Bvi people can’t donate a little encroachment. Want an embarrassment for the Turnbull family.
  • Observer (29/10/2019, 09:30) Like (19) Dislike (15) Reply
    This is unfair to those that have contribute to the rebuilding of this school .
    • ? (29/10/2019, 09:43) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
      How is it unfair?
    • BlackButterfly (29/10/2019, 10:49) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
      Oh right, so because persons volunteered to help with the school we should forcefully turn their land into a contribution at our own will?????? Please observer let CHOICES reign on!
  • facts (29/10/2019, 09:50) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    How they claim Showda not doing anything this is a big deal mehson after 47 years this man should be deputy premier
  • Laura (29/10/2019, 09:57) Like (34) Dislike (25) Reply
    God don't like ugly! You mean to tell me after all these years (from 1972 and 2019) of encroachment is now they deem fit after it was rebuilt on FREELY with someone else money..could they not simply DONATE the encroached land to the school ..after all it is our kids...come on man...Greed is going to be the death nell of our BVI!
    • @Laura (29/10/2019, 18:44) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Exactly! Yet a plaque is donated ...for what????

      When the wind blow fowl bottom does show.

  • Jehovah (29/10/2019, 10:03) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    MY GOD
  • wth (29/10/2019, 10:14) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
    How much is the government paying??? Isnt it much much cheaper to buy the tiny strip of land. People are too selfish.
  • Kingfish (29/10/2019, 11:49) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sometimes we as citizens have to give a little for the benefit of all, the property where the Willard Wheatley School
    in Major Bay stands was donated freely by a Penn family from East End.
    • NezRez (31/10/2019, 20:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Kingfish. Yes, the Penns donated the property. The Turnbulls did not, their land was stolen from them. Get it? Let someone come into your yard and say they need it for a higher cause, how would you react? Yeah, I figured that.
      • Kingfish (01/11/2019, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @NezRez. My point is that they could have offered to donate the property for the good of their community, there are
        hundreds of people in the BVI who give up land for roads etc {my family included} and did not request or receive any compensation from the government. I am not saying what the government did was right, however do the right thing for your community and the VI.
  • Hello Out There (29/10/2019, 12:42) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Principle, principle, principle. None of you out there blogging would freely give up LAND. And I am sure that the Government of the day was in a position to give an alternate piece of property in the vicinity. Maybe if they had made an offer then the family would have agreed and it would have been over long ago. Do not diss the family because none of you know the exact circumstances.
  • Peaches (29/10/2019, 14:35) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    I hope the Turnbull them ain't got no problem sharing up the $$$
  • Concerned (29/10/2019, 16:09) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    After so many years I think the family should offer Government the land I am sure that some of there family members benefitted from the school , I have noticed that. Mr Carl Dawson fenced in the bus stop at Joes Hill road I guess it was on his land .These are the same persons who love their country
  • NezRez (29/10/2019, 18:39) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Encroachment is against the law. That is stealing someones land. For all of you who say they should just donate it, why don't you give government or anyone, a piece of your land right now to go towards a much needed project. Ohhhh.....crickets.
  • blah (29/10/2019, 19:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    47 years of owing should be settled with interest at the current value of the property.
    • Hmmmm (30/10/2019, 07:01) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      The size of the land will make the difference, so dont look for millions. Also it is to go to the children of the original owner so those grand children and great grand children who planning to buy range rover etc, lol, that still remain a dream.
  • Knows Better (29/10/2019, 19:56) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    When you don't know any better you give praises where they shouldn't be. This Government is taking credit for all sorts of things that were already in the making. It's quite sickening. They need to stop lying to the public and let them know that they are just trying to finish certain things that had already started. This Government Administration really need to start telling the truth from just trying to make themselves look good.
    • Jessica Jones (30/10/2019, 11:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      From my knowledge the government was trying to buy the land for years and years, and that is what the government of the day suppose to do, they should finish what the other started, bearing in mind if it's a good thing.
  • musa (29/10/2019, 21:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Land issue will always be a concern in this world the only PC of land we own is when we dead.
  • Numbers (30/10/2019, 07:24) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    This happened in 1972 and only now we’re dealing with it? Pray tell, how much compensation are we talking about? And, as others have noted, this is nor exactly an indigent family.
    And, what about those who have illegally built on crown land?
  • Concerned (30/10/2019, 18:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is unfortunate that the wrong impression of the matter was given. The owners of the land as well as the quiet negotiator at crunch time are to be commended.


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