128 Old Harbour residents receive land titles

The recipients collected their titles Tuesday at the National Land Agency (NLA) Systematic Land Registration Land Titling ceremony, the second held under the programme.

The event, hosted at the Old Harbour New Testament Church of God, is another crowning moment for the government and people of Jamaica, said Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Holness, who delivered the main address, revealed there are some 350,000 unregistered lands in Jamaica with an estimated value in excess of $200 billion.

“There was never an orderly process of land settlement in Jamaica after the abolition of slavery. It became quite chaotic; it was not until the 1950s that there was some process of trying to ensure orderly settlement and titling of land,” said the prime minister.

Zachariah Oakley says it’s a historic day for him after trying for the last nine years without success.

"I've tried a lot of things through lawyers and it didn't get me anywhere. So what the government has done is to make it much easier. So I'm extremely excited about it," the Sharper Lane resident told Old Harbour News. Oakley, a businessman and music producer, noted the swift turn around period by the NLA to prepare the formal documentation, saying the process took “only three months”. His mind is now at ease he said as "unscrupulous people" can no longer try to steal his property.

Delroy Thomas is happy that the next generation of his family will live without worrying about the legitimacy of the property at Martin Lane, Church Pen.

"What I have here today is coming from my father days," said the 68-year-old who was born on the land. "I am a happy, happy man fi know se, mi ago leave dem (children and grandchildren) wid something."

For Ann Knight getting her title has finally settled longstanding family disputes in Herring Lane.

Knight, a senior citizen, said: "I feel good and I never think this would a happen because mi live on the property from mi was 14 years old and mi a 66 years old. Mi feel so good that I'm a land owner now."

Under the programme Jamaicans living on properties “undisturbed and undisputed” for more than 12 years are “afforded the opportunity to obtain titles” explained Cheriese Walcott, chief executive officer, National Land Agency.

In explaining further, Walcott, who is a native of Old Harbour, said: “This involves the methodical and orderly registration of parcels of land in a designated area under the adjudication process.

“For those who may be unaware, an adjudication committee is comprised of individuals with specialized skills and knowledge who deliberate on the rights and interest of any person in relation to land within an area declared under the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification (Special Provisions) Act 2005, commonly known as the SPA. The committee adjudicates land tenure issues arising from ad hoc registration and the systematic land registration process, and issues an adjudication certificate as conclusive proof of ownership where ownership is determined.”

Over 6000 parcels of land have been investigated by the NLA’s systematic land registration in St Catherine alone in the last year, according to Shalise Porteous, senior director, adjudication services at the NLA.

“These investigations were extensive and comprehensive in nature,” said Porteous. “The Cadastral Maps were used to identify parcels of land and thereafter, the team conducted house-to-house visits in these communities in order to interview persons claiming and interest in land. The team also engaged community members to verify the information gathered from interviews with landowners”

All legal and surveyance cost are covered by the programme initially but repayable by the titleholders in tranches over a specified period. For up to eight acres of land, each recipient will pay a combined total of $134,000 in legal and surveying fees.

The ceremony is of “special significance” to Member of Parliament of St Catherine South West Everald Warmington who encouraged his constituents to “make the best use of your asset”.

“Today you become a part of a growing number of people in Jamaica who can say those two powerful words ‘I own’. Your titles will ensure your financial independence and peace of mind, for that is what having a title means. It is an extremely important piece of paper. Having your title means that the land is yours by law, and nothing or no-one can separate you from your land. I encourage you to make the best use of your asset and work to keep up the value of your property,” said the veteran politician who has served this constituency as the people’s elected representative for 23 years.

Custos of St Catherine Icylin Golding urged persons living on unregistered land to get formalized via the NLA programme. She said her office will play its part to raise awareness about the Systematic Land Registration process.

“I will ensure that Justices of the Peace in the parish are actively involved in this process by encouraging them to extend their services to persons they know who may need assistance,” said Golding.

More than 5,000 land titles have been issued so far in the parishes of St Elizabeth and St Catherine since the initiative began in 2020. The latest batch of beneficiaries came from a wide cross-section of individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds throughout Greater Old Harbour. Some 121 communities in St Catherine have been declared systematic adjudication areas by the National Land Agency.

Under the NLA’s systematic land registration programme, the government seeks to formally account for every parcel of unregistered property across all parishes. But the programme is very time-consuming given the meticulous nature of the process undertaken. However, the state agency is working assiduously to reduce its delivery timeframe with the acquiring of a new mobile unit, boost its cadre of land surveyors in its employ, and modernize internal mechanisms to improve its overall productivity and efficiency.

“I am confident and very happy that we now have a system in place that is going to ensure that every square-inch of land in Jamaica falls under a public register that secures the property rights and interests of the persons who own it,” said Prime Minister Holness. “And that is a majority achievement for Jamaica 60. We may not realize all the benefit now but we have a system in place that will last and will accomplish it for generations to come.”