PRIME MINISTER DREW HIGHLIGHTS LABOUR’S CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LAND OWNERSHIP, AS RESIDENTS OF LA GUERITE RECEIVE LONG-AWAITED LAND TITLES

BASSTERRE, Saint Kitts, October 16, 2025 (SKNIS) — The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, under the leadership of Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has reaffirmed its deep commitment to people-centred development and economic empowerment through land ownership. This commitment was demonstrated once again on Thursday, October 16, 2025, when residents of La Guerite received their certificates of title—a life-changing moment for families who have lived and built their lives on the land for generations.

In his remarks at the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Drew tied today’s event within the broader historical arc of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s nearly 100-year mission to uplift and empower the people of the Federation through land ownership and social justice.

“The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party came into being in 1932. It is the oldest political party in the English-speaking Caribbean,” Dr. Drew reminded attendees. “From the very beginning, its mantra was, ‘For the Good That We Can Do’. And since that time, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party was on a path to free our people from colonisation, which means independence. It was on a path to empower our people.”

Prime Minister Drew recalled key moments in the country’s history — the 1935 Buckley’s Uprising by labourers that sparked regional movements for justice, the nationalisation of lands under National Hero and First Premier, Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, and the Freehold Village Land Policy of the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas administration, which gave thousands of citizens access to the land they had long occupied.

Dr. Drew emphasised that the current Labour administration remains steadfast in carrying that torch forward.

“Today, we are saying that this Labour administration must stand on the same principle and advance the cause of land ownership here in Saint Kitts and Nevis. And so, we decided that we will do everything for you … so that when we show up here today, the documentation that you would receive would be a legally binding piece of document to say, finally, after many, many decades that you are land owners in the land where your forefathers were born.”

Through this initiative, the government has demonstrated its commitment to advancing its Sustainable Island State Agenda by promoting inclusive, people-centred development and ensuring that every citizen has equitable access to opportunities that support dignity, stability, and long-term prosperity.

-30-