Thousands of Titles Issued

KINGSTON — Minister of Housing, Environment and Water, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says progress has been made in the issuing of registered titles to persons, since the passage of the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification (Special Provisions) Act in 2005.

“Of the 3,023 registered titles issued as at August 29, 2011, some 2,987 are for first title registration. Of (that number), approximately 85 per cent is for persons in adverse possession, where no title previously existed,” Dr. Chang said.

The Minister was responding to questions posed by Member of Parliament for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites, about the issuing of titles, during the sitting of the House of Representatives on August 30.

Dr. Chang also informed that progress is being made towards the achievement of Government’s stated policy to issue and distribute registered titles to as many owners and occupants of land as are due to them, or who can pay for them.

“There are various partnerships being forged with a view of achieving government’s stated policy. The Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP II) project, in conjunction with the Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation and Geoland Title Limited in the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester is one such initiative. The partnership seeks to bring surveying and titling services to members of the public at a reduced cost,” Dr. Chang said.

“Additionally, other areas of collaboration have been forged with the National Housing Trust and other financial institutions in order to provide financing for the payment of fees for land titling services. LAMP has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the People’s Co-operative Banks in order to ensure that its reach extend towards rural communities in Jamaica,” Dr. Chang added.

He further noted that a Memorandum of Understanding is also pending with respect of work to be done with Noranda Bauxite Company and the Jamalco Bauxite Company.

Dr. Chang also informed that some work has been done with the National Irrigation Commission to assist farmers in obtaining titles in the Inter-American Development Bank project areas of Colbeck in St. Catherine, Yallahs in St. Thomas and New Forest in Manchester.

Additionally, the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland have been declared LAMP Project areas. 

LAMP was established in 2000 out of a need to assist individuals to secure titles for lands they occupy, for which they have no formal documentation of ownership.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter