## **PM Signals Expanded Powers for St. John’s Development Corporation**

The government will move to expand the legal authority of the **St. John’s Development Corporation** to enforce property upkeep in the capital, Prime Minister **Gaston Browne** said, warning that voluntary compliance by property owners has not been sufficient.

Speaking during a public consultation on the future of St. John’s, Browne said legislation will be taken to Parliament to broaden the corporation’s scope, giving it stronger powers to ensure buildings are properly maintained and to address long-standing deterioration across the city.

He said while the government intends to continue engaging property owners and prefers a participatory approach, experience has shown that enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened to achieve consistent compliance.

Browne stressed that the proposed expansion is not aimed at dispossessing owners, but at uplifting St. John’s, improving safety and restoring the capital as a functional and attractive urban center.

The move forms part of a wider plan to revitalize the city, combining infrastructure upgrades, incentives for renovation and tougher enforcement where properties remain neglected.

WATCH: Prime Minister **Gaston Browne** says legislation will be brought to Parliament to expand the powers of the St. John’s Development Corporation, allowing stronger enforcement of building upkeep in the capital.