# Navassa: Who really owns it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170 "2000-10-08T19:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/1 "2000-10-08T19:29:49Z")
Who really owns that tiny speck of guano covered rock off of Haiti in the Caribbean? The US claims it, but one private investor states he bought it from the original owner, and does not recognize US “occupation” of his realm. Has he got a case? or does he need anti-psychotics? Anybody know, or have any good leads for me to follow? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/2 "2000-10-08T19:35:13Z")
The US seems to own it: [http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/navassa/history/](http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/navassa/history/) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/3 "2000-10-08T19:47:18Z")
Jurisdiction is one thing and ownership another. It can be privately owned and be subject to US Jurisdiction. That website seems to imply it is owned by the US though. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/4 "2000-10-08T19:51:56Z")
Expedia maps calls it a US dependency. Maybe the interpretation is: Q. does it belong to the US? A. It depends who you ask. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/5 "2000-10-08T21:04:59Z")
It really isn’t that tough of a question. A private person may own it, but the land is still subject to US laws. I can own 40 acres but the land is still subject to US laws. BTW, does any private person (not a royal) own land _not_ subject to national or international jurisdiction and laws? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/6 "2000-10-08T21:48:21Z")
Somehow, the Master’s column on [“How do I go about starting my own country?”](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html) seems relevant. BTW, I got a set of catalogs from Loompanics Unlimited, and they have some seriously goofy stuff. Great for gag gifts and such. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navassa-who-really-owns-it/36170/7 "2000-10-09T04:22:43Z")
The [CIA](http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bq.html) mentions a “private claim advanced against the island”; the Company notes that the island is also claimed by Haiti. As already noted, ownership is not the same thing as sovereignty–perhaps the “private claim” advanced has to do not with whether the island is subject to U.S. jurisdiction, but whether the island is reserved for use as a lighthouse, or could be put to use for some other purpose by its would-be private owner.