Westmoreland Residents Celebrate Life-Changing Land Titles from HAJ

Newly minted property owners from communities in Westmoreland are expressing pride and gratitude after receiving land titles through the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), marking a significant step towards security and empowerment.

The handover ceremony, hosted by the HAJ on July 18 at Hotel Comingle in Savanna-la-Mar, saw the issuance of 86 certificates of title to residents who had previously occupied lands without legal tenure.

The initiative forms part of the Government’s wider thrust to increase land ownership and security of tenure for Jamaicans under various regularisation programmes.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, headed the list of dignitaries in attendance.

Beneficiary, Juliet French, from Whitehouse, told JIS News, “I feel proud… I feel good.

“Dr. Holness [came] and delivered what we got. [So] I’m grateful… . I’m glad I [was] here,” she said.

Fellow recipient, Samuel Bingham of Savanna-la-Mar shared similar sentiments, noting, “I feel very excited for a brand-new opportunity.

“Sometimes it might take a time for the titles to come through… but it’s a process. HAJ is doing their best to ensure that everybody can be legalised… [and] they’re doing a great job. So, I’m grateful,” Mr. Bingham stated.

In his address, Dr. Holness underscored the Government’s commitment to helping citizens secure land ownership.

“For us, land ownership is not just about giving people a piece of paper; it is about changing the socio-economic condition of the people who live on that land. We want every single Jamaican who is sitting on land to be able to get that title and transfer intergenerational wealth. We are serious about ensuring that land becomes a productive, wealth-generating asset for ordinary Jamaicans,” he stated.

Dr. Holness noted that among the beneficiaries are individuals who are not merely receiving land titles but securing legacies – emphasising that this marks true, transformational change.

“When people feel empowered, when they feel a sense of ownership and pride, they start to take care of their communities and invest in their homes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness announced that the Government will introduce a time-bound amnesty programme to support residents who have not yet regularised their land holdings.

The initiative aims to encourage more Jamaicans to formalise ownership before enforcement measures are implemented.

The HAJ, an agency under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, continues to advance the Government’s mandate to expand access to affordable housing and strengthen land tenure security across the island.