Trust Issues Arise for Tenants and Descendants on Codrington Trust Managed Land

Tenants and descendants on land managed by the Codrington Trust say they are having trust issues with officials of that estate, with some of them complaining that years after paying for the spot of land they occupy, they are still awaiting title deeds.

This has prompted residents Junior Mayers and Ras Ian to form the Tenants and Farmers Union to collectively put forward their concerns to the Codrington Trust.

However, Mayers said they were forced to organise a meeting last Saturday at the Codrington College location, providing an opportunity for residents to share their concerns with officials of the Ministry of Housing and Lands after they seemed to be getting nowhere with officials of the Trust.

“We are having issues trusting Codrington Trust. Descendants and tenants have trust issues with Codrington. It is a very serious matter because they are trusted with managing the estate on our behalf,” said Mayers. “There is a great amount of mistrust. Codrington received the funds for lands and are yet to transfer these lands.”

Some of the tenants who occupy lands in College Savannah, Blades Hill, Consett Bay and areas around The Lodge School complained that they made payments for their spots as far back as 10 years ago and were yet to receive the necessary paperwork saying ownership of the land has been transferred to them.

Some residents also complained that they paid more than they should have, based on the Tenantry Freehold Purchase Act. What is more, the tenants said they made the payment directly to officials at Codrington Trust and were not informed they had the option to use a lawyer of their own or one from the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

Mayers said due to those concerns, he and other members of the community decided to hold the discussion last Saturday and reached out to officials from the Ministry of Housing and Lands to get some help.

“We invited members of the Ministry of Housing and Lands to discuss the issues and shed some light on their concerns,” he said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Lands Niki Smith told the disgruntled residents that the landlords had the option to refuse to sell their land to tenants for whatever reason.

However, he said he was surprised to learn that after agreeing to sell the tenants and descendants the land and the residents making payments, they were yet to be given their conveyance.

“We are a little surprised to hear that people aren’t getting their titles, having paid. But then we will have to look at each individual situation to see who you paid your money to, if you have your receipts, and what are the difficulties with the land being transferred,” said Smith.

He informed the gathering that based on the 1980 Tenantry Freehold Purchase Act, tenants who were renting the lots for at least five years prior to the Act, had the opportunity to purchase. Eligible tenants could purchase spots at 10 cents per square foot.

The Agricultural Holdings (Option to Purchase) Act of 1983, also gave tenants of agricultural lands, who were renting spots five years prior, the right to purchase their lots but at a negotiated price.

Smith said owners of the plantations across the island were informed by letter from the Government about the individuals who were eligible to purchase lots when those acts came into existence.

He also informed the residents that they had the option of using a lawyer from the NHC for just $10, or one of their own.

However, some of the residents said they were not given that information when they met with officials from the Codrington Trust.

Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Lands took the names and contact information of the concerned residents, promising to follow up on the matter.

Mayers said he was satisfied following the evening’s discussion, declaring that “people now have a greater understanding of what is required and what is to be done”.

“NHC has assured they will work with them to ensure that all issues are resolved,” he added.

The group is scheduled to meet again on Saturday to discuss issues relating to reparations.

Earlier this month, United Kingdom-based charity United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) announced that descendants of slaves who lived and worked at Codrington Estates in St John are set to benefit from $18 million in reparations in the form of land, scholarships, and entrepreneurial training. The charity said the funds would be invested over a ten to 15-year period to help with several reparatory activities identified by the Codrington Trust.

“We want to make sure that the money is spent in our interest and part of that is to help with the tenantry and make sure the people get their lands,” Mayers said.

Barbados TODAY reached out to Codrington Trust but has so far received no response.

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