A pressure group is calling on the government of the British Virgin Islands to take back control of Sir Richard Branson’s Nekker island once his lease on the private isle expires.
‘Keepers Of The Region’ a pressure group from nearby Hispaniola have written to the authorities in Tortola, asking them not to renew Sir Richard’s lease when it is due for renewal.
Nekker is a 74-acre island in the British Virgin Islands just north of Jamaica. The island was bought by Sir Richard Branson in 1978 for £180,000 from the British Virgin islands Government.
It was sold to him on condition that he developed a resort within five years from the date of purchase or the island would revert back to the state.
“Nekker should never have been sold to anyone yet alone an outsider who only looks out for himself,his family and the wealthy Jet set.” said Thomas Marlowby, a spokesman for the group. ” The isles of the Caribbean belongs to the people of the Caribbean, and all who call it home. We welcome everyone to The Caribbean and the islands should not be private.”
Marlowby revealed that he wrote to Sir Richard a while ago in London asking him to do the “honourable thing” by releasing the island back to the government and people of the BVI once the lease is up.
“We want our people in the region to have access to Nekker. It should not be the preserve of the rich and famous,” said Marlowby who maintains that very few people from the region has access to Nekker.
“We have written to all parties concerned including the BVI government and hope that the isle will become available to all the people in The Caribbean. Exclusivity is not the way we operate in our part of the world. We are open to all”. He adds “The Caribbean belongs to all of us irrespective of class creed colour and ethnicity. We Love our archipelago.”