Scheme for return of undeveloped land |04 February 2023

67% of claims not qualified

Applicants who have qualified under the scheme for return of undeveloped and compulsory acquired state land during the period of 1977 to 1993 will soon receive a written confirmation from the Ministry of Lands and Housing.

A spokesperson for the ministry said that qualified applicants will in the near future also receive a proposal regarding undeveloped land that can be returned to them including the amount of pro-rata compensation which will have to be refunded to government under the scheme.

A total of 156 applications were received under the scheme. Of this total, 105 claims representing 67% have not qualified under the scheme for various reasons among which are:

• Non-submission of required documents;
• Applicant was not the owner of the land at the date of acquisition or purchase by government; and
• The land was not acquired or purchased during the period specified under the scheme.

The scheme for return of undeveloped land was launched on October 1, 2021. It was open to all Seychellois whose land had either been compulsorily acquired under the Lands Acquisition Act, 1977, or acquired by private agreement for a public purpose or in the national interest, during the period 1977 to 1993.

Applicants were required to lodge a claim for the return of land that were still undeveloped by the latest December 31, 2021.

The return of land to the original owner or his legally empowered representative was to be made in consideration of the pro-rata refund of compensation that was paid for acquisition or purchase of the original parcel of land. 

Press release from the Ministry of Lands & Housing