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The Ministry of Lands is currently reviewing applications for transfers and mortgages of crown leases, says permanent secretary Lt. Col Neumi Leweni.
Leweni made the comments as the Ministry continues to receive a high number of applications involving astronomical amount of transactions and Government as state land custodian is not getting its fair share from these transactions.
“One of the greater concerns is the Transfers of Agricultural Leases to higher uses such as Tourism Development and other commercial and industrial uses.”
“Most lessees are selling their agricultural leases to developers and overseas buyers at quite high prices offered by these buyers,” he said.
There have also been incidences where local land speculators have taken advantage of the situation by buying agricultural leases from poor farmers and selling them to overseas buyers at high prices.
“The sad part is those who really want to farm or develop the land are being forced to pay high prices,” he added.
Leweni reiterated that there is a very urgent need to curtail such practices and introduce a more effective method to screen and process these applications.
The processing of consents to transfers and mortgages on crown lease has been put on hold as of 6th of July with the only exception is for Transfers by way of administration or to family members by way of ‘Love and Affection’.
A public announcement will be made by the Ministry in the near future to outline the new conditions of ‘Applications for Transfers and Mortgages of crown lease’.
Source: Ministry of Information
