St. Catherine land owners grateful for NLA titles

Several new land owners in Linstead are expressing gratitude to the Government for giving them the opportunity to own a title, which, they say, is a lasting legacy they can pass on to their children.

The residents articulated their appreciation on Thursday (January 31) after receiving registered titles from the National Land Agency (NLA) for lands that they occupy.

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, was on hand to make the presentations during the NLA’s Road Show, which was held on the grounds of the St. Helen’s Catholic Church.

The titles were provided under NLA’s initiative aimed at assisting ordinary Jamaicans to formalise their property ownership.

Ruby Richards said she intends to pass on the property to her children and grand children. She said that she started the process of ownership of the land some five years ago, noting that it has been in the possession of her family since the 1980’s.

Fitz Green, another recipient, said that being a landowner “makes me a better man”. He told JIS News that having the title will benefit his children, pointing out that “if I should die now, I leave them somewhere”.

Dave Daley said he was “elated”. He noted that not having a certificate of title for the land he occupies has prohibited him from accomplishing certain goals.

He said he is involved in agriculture and the land will assist him in obtaining a loan.

Minister Pickersgill congratulated the recipients and urged them to put their titles to good use. He said the Government is in the process of creating an “ownership society” where all Jamaicans, regardless of their background, education or socio-economic standing, can secure land ownership.

The Minister praised St. Catherine for having an “excellent record” of 70 per cent land registration, which is the second highest level next to Kingston and St. Andrew.

“As at January last year, the parish of St. Catherine had 146,329 parcels. Out of that number, 102,472 have registered titles,” he said.