Charlemont Residents Receive Land Titles

Residents of Charlemont, in North West St. Catherine, were presented with certificates of title and notices of allotment, at a ceremony in the community, on February 18, hosted by the National Land Agency (NLA).

The documents were handed over by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NLA and Commissioner of Lands, Elizabeth Stair and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill.

In his address, the Minister said the Government regarded land ownership for Jamaicans as being of utmost importance.

“Land is the root of wealth and we want to move towards the ownership of society,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Stair informed that the land instruments issued to the residents represent a sense of independence.

“Now they have an option; they can mortgage it, they can put it up, they can leave it to their children. For generations they can own their land,” she said.

During the ceremony, a number of young persons collected certificates of titles. One recipient, Ann-marie Sangster, expressed delight at being able to own her own land.

“It feels like I’ve just won the lottery. I can now use my title to do whatever I want. I can use my title to borrow money to uplift myself; I can help my children by borrowing money to send them to college,” she said.

Acquired by the Government in 1975, the Charlemont property was subsequently converted to a land settlement scheme, subdivided and sold to various settlers on conditions that allowed them to pay over time.

Settlers pay an initial deposit and thereafter, payments are made in half yearly installments. After the purchase price is paid in full, certificates of title are issued to the respective settlers.