35 St. Elizabeth Residents Receive Land Titles

Thirty-five residents of St. Elizabeth became proud landowners today (February 23) when they were presented with certificates of title for property that they have occupied for several years.

The titles, provided under the National Land Agency (NLA) inaugural Systematic Land Registration (SLR) programme, were handed over by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a ceremony held at the Newell High School in the parish.

The SLR programme seeks to assist persons to obtain titles for property they have lived on, open, undisturbed, and undisputed for upwards of 12 years, through the process of adjudication.

Prime Minister Holness, in his address at the handover ceremony, said that the Government is moving methodically, through the SLR programme, to get titles in the hands of Jamaicans in a more seamless manner.

He noted that there are far too many persons who occupy land uninterrupted for generations who are fearful of approaching the Government to obtain titles.

“What we recognised was happening was that there are not many Jamaicans who felt the need to approach the State to say, ‘I want titles’ because of the process involved. There are those who just feel… if I go and ask, maybe they will take the land away from me, so it is better I just leave it as it is,” he pointed out.

“What I really want to communicate to the people of Jamaica is that we are in a different dispensation of land settlement in the country. You need not fear to come forward to have your land settled,” Mr. Holness assured.

The Prime Minister encouraged the land title recipients, who reside in the communities of Flagaman, Berlin, Potsdam, and Burnt Savannah, to use the documents to create avenues for their economic advancement.

“Your land title opens up a vista of opportunities for economic growth and development. This land title immediately gives you an economic advantage,” he pointed out.

Prime Minister Holness said that the Government remains bullish in its approach to ensuring that every Jamaican can own a piece of the soil and will bolster the ability of the NLA to fast-track that process.

“We need to expand the capabilities of the NLA to do more systematic titling, that is, to go out into the communities to meet with the people who are in possession of the land, do the surveys for them, take them through any dispute resolution that needs to be done and allow them to get their title,” he pointed out.

It is expected that some 20,000 certificates of title will be distributed over the next three years under the SLR.

The programme is being undertaken through funding from the National Housing Trust (NHT).