New Landowners In St. Catherine Grateful

“I feel like I’ve won the lottery,” said 45-year-old Zachariah Oakley after receiving a registered title to the plot of land that he has been living on since birth in Church Pen, St. Catherine.

Mr. Oakley is among 128 residents of the parish who are now proud landowners, having received certificates of title for property that they have occupied for several years.

The residents are from the communities of Old Harbour, Church Pen, Sharper’s Lane, Thompson Pen, Bushy Park and Old Harbour Bay.

The titles, provided under the National Land Agency (NLA) Systematic Land Registration (SLR) programme, were handed over by a team led by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a recent ceremony held at the Old Harbour New Testament Church of God in Rhoden’s Pen.

Beaming with pride, Mr. Oakley told JIS News that he has been trying for several years to acquire a title for the property and thanked the Government for making his dream a reality.

“I have been trying to process it for about nine years… . This programme that the Government has set up has made it so easy. Since they started, it’s like only three months and I get through with something that I have been trying to get through for years, so I actually feel like I’ve won the lottery,” he said.

“I’m 45 now and I basically grow up there. We’ve maintained the property, so it still looks modern and up to date; it’s moving with the times,” Mr. Oakley shared with a chuckle.

Sixty-six-year-old Ena Foga, who also resides in Church Pen was overcome with joy when she was presented with her land title.

“Me feel good and mi a seh, bwoy, mi thank God mi father did lef something fi mi. Thank God me own a piece a land,” she said.

Ms. Foga noted that she had long wanted to begin the process of land ownership and was grateful for the NLA programme.

“Me a wonda all the while and a seh how me aguh look about it, until the (National) Land Agency come in now and survey it,” she shared, noting that she was thankful to finally obtain the documents for the property.

Seventy-three-year-old Sarah Reid, who also lives on property in Church Pen with her extended family, told JIS News “We give God thanks to know that we have our own title.”

Gary Harris could not hide his pride and joy as he expressed appreciation.

“I so glad seh I get my land title. Di process was fine and everything. Me a 39 and a in deh mi born,” the 39-year-old told JIS News.

Through the SLR programme, persons who have been in open, undisturbed, and undisputed possession of land for 12 years or more are afforded the opportunity to obtain titles for these lands.

The initiative is playing a key role in increasing socio-economic security and stability, by affording persons the opportunity to acquire property.

Prime Minister Holness said the Government is actively pursuing programmes to provide more land and shelter solutions for Jamaicans.

He said that these programmes will allow more persons to be a part of a “formal regulated settlement”, thereby improving their and their families’ standard of living.

“The Government is not unaware or unsympathetic to the genuine concerns of people trying to find a housing solution for themselves, but it is not a solution to the problem to go and illegally settle; it just exacerbates and compounds the problem,” he pointed out.

Prime Minister Holness said the SLR programme seeks to scale up land registration to support the country’s aim of extending the benefits of recognised property rights to more Jamaicans.

“I am confident that we now have a system in place that is going to ensure that every square inch of land in Jamaica falls under a public register that secures the property rights and interests of the persons who own it, and that is a major achievement for Jamaica 60,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner of Lands, NLA, Cheriese Walcott, said the agency remains committed to helping Jamaicans secure property rights through the implementation of an efficient land registration system.

The CEO said that prioritising the preservation of land rights will establish a firm foundation for sustainable growth, assist in reducing poverty and boost shared prosperity among citizens.

She indicated that persons who have applied for titles under the SLR programme are expected to receive their titles during this year.

The programme is being facilitated under the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2020, which was passed in Parliament in June 2020.

The objective is to increase security of tenure and provide for a more efficient and systematic land-titling system.

Others participating in the handover of titles were Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington and Custos of St. Catherine, Icylin Golding.