Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley Pledges Sweeping Land Transaction Reforms for Modernisation

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley says Government stands ready to make sweeping reforms aimed at modernising Barbados’ complex and antiquated land transaction process, which she described as a critical step for national advancement.

Speaking to a gathering of stakeholders during a session on transforming the land transaction process, hosted by the Ministry of Housing at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Mottley said outdated land laws and bureaucratic processes were hindering economic empowerment and limiting opportunities for citizens to own property efficiently and affordably.

“Land transactions here are burdened by delays and complexities that simply don’t reflect the needs of a 21st-century society,” Mottley said.

With a focus on shifting to a streamlined digital framework, she emphasised the urgency of transitioning “from an analogue environment into a digital environment” to keep Barbados competitive on the global stage.

She pointed out that, when compared to other Caribbean nations with quicker land dealings, Barbados must improve its system to attract investment and provide more Barbadians with access to land ownership.

Citing past government initiatives, such as former Prime Minister Tom Adams’ Tenantries Freehold Purchase Act, which gave Barbadians affordable land access and the ability to use it as collateral, Mottley said her administration would continue this legacy by prioritising affordability, accessibility and efficiency. Her proposed reforms aim to simplify legal terminology, reduce bureaucratic red tape and develop a more efficient property transaction process that empowers citizens and businesses.

Documentation

Mottley noted the burden placed on citizens by the existing land system, which she described as “19th-century in design.” In particular, she pointed to how overly complex documentation and lengthy wait times prevented buyers from accessing land efficiently.

“If a person makes an offer on land in February and can’t even get the sale agreement signed by October because they’re waiting on certificates and compliance documents, that’s simply unacceptable,” she said. Mottley stressed that while other Caribbean islands could complete similar transactions in a fraction of the time, Barbados’ land system had lagged, adding urgency to the reform effort.

The Prime Minister said Government had been working closely with the Lands and Surveys Department to lay the groundwork

for a digital transformation of land data management.