by Nisha Paul

• Residents occupying lands in Gwankai without formal approval received eviction notices
• Dispute highlights tension between informal occupation and formal state control of public lands
• Prevention of Squatting on Crown Lands Rules outlines how eviction notices must be served

The Government of Grenada has moved to enforce long-standing eviction provisions under the Crown Lands framework, issuing 7-day notices to residents occupying lands in Gwankai, South St George, without formal approval.

Several occupants, many of whom have lived on the property for years, revealed this week that they had been given 7 days to vacate. For some, the notice has come as a shock since they followed what they believed were the proper avenues to secure ownership. One man, who has occupied the land for nearly a decade and constructed a concrete home, said he applied for ownership in 2022 but received no response beyond a notice dated 7 April, giving him just 7 days to vacate. Despite repeated visits to the ministry, another resident said no clear response was ever given on the status of her application.

The dispute now highlights a deeper tension between informal occupation and formal state control of public lands. It also raises questions about how long-standing applications are handled, and whether occupants are given clear timelines or feedback before enforcement begins.

In a statement on land matters issued on Thursday, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Javan Williams signalled a firm shift in enforcement. He cautioned individuals to “manage their expectations of crown lands” as the ministry seeks to manage public lands within the law. The PS noted that quite a few individuals are applying for land while others are attempting to squat on government property, and advised that “squatting is a legal matter.”

Williams pointed directly to the Prevention of Squatting on Crown Lands Rules, SRO 5 of 2007, which outlines how eviction notices must be served. “Section 2 of Section 4 says a notice is pursuant to section 1, (which deals with squatting) shall be served on the squatters in person or where the squatters may not be traced or served with the notice within 48 hours of its issue, the notice can be posted upon a conspicuous place on the land or any building or structure existing on the land.”

He added that enforcement teams investigate suspected cases before notices are issued, but warned that compliance has been a growing problem. “Persons are so bold that they are removing the notices,” he said, cautioning against both the removal of eviction notices and the construction of buildings without legal authority.

Williams also underscored penalties under the law for those who ignore eviction orders. “Where a squatter fails to comply with a notice…in accordance to section 2, he or she commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding EC$1,000, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months.”

He said the enforcement push reflects a broader policy shift. “The Government of Grenada has taken a bold step to fix a long-standing and a very complex matter.” Referencing both the Crown Lands Act, Chapter 73 and the SRO governing squatting, he said, “Over the years, persons have been squatting and deliberately occupying the use of somebody else’s land.” “Persons are doing that with the hope that they will be excused. We want to advise persons, let us all follow the law because we now are seriously invoking the eviction section of the SRO5, 2007.”

While acknowledging that some Gwankai residents have applied for land, Williams made it clear that an application does not grant rights to occupy. “According to the legislation, a survey must be conducted and submitted to the Cabinet,” after an application is received. “A decision is taken and you are served something in writing in accordance with the ministers agreement (and) that’s when you are authorised to use Crown lands. Any person doing otherwise will be considered a squatter.”

He stressed that Cabinet remains the final authority. “Under the law, the Cabinet is the sole authority to direct an allotment. So, if you are not allotted a piece of Crown land, then you are deemed a squatter.”

The situation in Gwankai is fast becoming a real test of how serious the Government is about bringing order to Crown lands — and how communities will respond when enforcement catches up with years of informal settlement. For residents facing eviction, this is not just policy. It is home, livelihood, and years of investment on the line. For the government, the focus is on enforcing the law and bringing greater control to the use of Crown lands, amid longstanding concerns about squatting and the land allocation process.

What unfolds in Gwankai could shape how similar cases are handled across Grenada, especially in communities where occupation has outpaced formal approval for years.

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