More Jamaicans to Get Land Titles This Year

Government will be acting to ensure that more Jamaicans get their property titles this fiscal year, through the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP).

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has announced that LAMP II will be rolled out in St. James, St. Ann, Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny, during the financial year.

LAMP II provides a central ‘one stop shop’ for persons to obtain their titles at a fraction of the cost. Under LAMP II, all land surveys and legal matters are dealt with in one place and some government taxes and fees, such as Transfer Tax, Stamp Duty and Registration fees will be waived, so that it costs less to register and update a title.

LAMP II has also implemented a payment plan to make it easier on the pocket or to access financing through a financial institution.

Making her contribution to the 2014/2015 Budget Debate in the House, on Tuesday, April 29, the Prime Minister said holding a certificate of title provides a sense of security in having your land for life.  “A title holder takes pride in knowing that he or she will be able to leave something tangible for their children. When Jamaicans own their land, no one can move them from it,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

She informed that over 1,100 titles have already been handed out under LAMP, in the last two years.  These include 89 for Flanker, Norwood and Rose Hall, in St. James; 24 in Callaloo Mews, St. Andrew; 17 in Martha Brae and 35 from Duanvale in Trelawny; 70 from Ebony Park in Clarendon; 85 in Gravel Heights, St. Catherine; and 51 in Seaview, St. Andrew.

Mrs. Simpson Miller also announced that the National Housing Trust (NHT) will deliver 1,502 titles later this year.

She congratulated those who have received titles, telling them, “you are now part of Jamaica’s Ownership Society.”