250 Titles to be Handed Over Under Land Settlement Programme

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarkeannounced, today (Oct. 24) that excess of 250 certificates of title will be handed over to beneficiaries of the Land Settlement Programme.
Addressing a press briefing at the Ministry’s Old Hope Road offices, Mr. Clarke said these titles would be presented at ceremonies in Clarendon on November 1, Trelawny on November 2, Ocho Rios on November 15, and Port Antonio on November 22.
“In my Budget presentation I noted that one of my first priority actions would be to make a significant difference in the area of providing titles for land settlement schemes. Some of these schemes date back to the 40’s and 50’s, when the concept was to sell land under special terms and conditions to persons in the society who would otherwise remain landless,” said the Minister.
There are some 54 schemes totaling 3,542 lots in the various Parish Councils island wide awaiting approval, and an additional 75 properties comprising 8,871 lots to be surveyed and subdivision approval obtained.
“Over the years the pace at which we carry out these surveys has been slow due to inadequate resources. Some $5 million have been allocated in the current budget to commence the surveying work in some of the more critical schemes, and we will complete the surveys of some 1,075 parcels of land,” he informed.
Surveys will be undertaken in Joppa St. Andrew; Bel Air, St. Ann; Hounslow and Fullerswood in St. Elizabeth; Cousin’s Cove and Shettlewood in Hanover; Richmond, St. James; Grays, St. Mary; Anchovy, Bybroook; Hart Hill and Low Laden in Portland; and Norwich in St. Thomas.
“We are going to be working assiduously with the Parish Councils, the National Environment and Planning Agency, and the National Works Agency to ensure that the process is accelerated,” said Minister Clarke.