Compensation Payments Have Begun for Project Affected Persons

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By the end of April, the Government of St Lucia (GOSL) had paid compensation to 14 out of 17 economically displaced farming households affected by land clearance for the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP). These households farm a variety of crops in the communities of Belvedere and Belle Plaine, Soufriere; and Park Estate, Saltibus. Compensation to the other three (3) households will take place during the month of May 2026.

The occupied lands will be used by the GOSL to facilitate well pad development and road expansion in Belvedere; well pad development, road expansion and materials storage in Belle Plaine; and material storage in Park Estate. A total of approximately 12 acres of land is required for the project. Of this amount, 2.40 acres will be acquired through the Land Registration Act, 2.30 acres purchased through private treaty; 2.8 acres leased and the government will transfer 4.45 acres of Crown Land for project use. The project’s occupation of these lands will result in the involuntary resettlement of 17 farming households.

In order to ensure that the quality and standard of living of these affected farming households is not compromised, they are being compensated for their assets valued at the cutoff date of September 30, 2024, paid for two-years lost income and provided with farm restoration support to assist in restoring their farms after project completion. These farming households will be allowed to return to their previous farmlands after completion of the project in mid-2028.

Besides the above 17 farming households, another 104 households will be economically affected by the project. These households are owners of the lands which will be acquired by the GOSL for the project but who do not farm or reside on the land. Because these are family lands and the heirs do not yet have legal title, administrators are presently being appointed for these respective families to facilitate payment of compensation amounts for their lands.

Compensation amounts calculated at replacement cost with interest at 6% per annum will be placed in escrow for each property.  This will be undertaken immediately after the Ministry of Physical Development and Public Utilities has received Cabinet approval for the acquisitions. This approval is presently being sought. On appointment of administrators, final compensation amount will be negotiated by each family administrator with the GOSL’s Authorised Officer.

Thereafter, the agreed amount will be paid to the relevant family administrator from the escrow account for distribution to the heirs of the registered but deceased landowner.

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