Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness, has warned against what he described as a “dangerous and growing trend” of organised land grabbing, where individuals are illegally occupying, subdividing and selling government and private lands under the guise of Adverse Possession.

Speaking at a Land Titling Ceremony in Manchester, the Prime Minister highlighted a particular case involving the illegal clearing of Government Land for resale to unsuspecting persons.

“One case has been brought to my attention where 20 acres of government land is being cleared, (they are) marking it up with red paint and dropping stakes as if they have a right to do so and then selling lots to unsuspecting persons who are so desperate for land that they don’t go and check the register, meaning they don’t go to the NLA to find out whether or not the person who is claiming ownership of the land owns the land, or go to their Municipal Authority to see whether or not there has been an application for subdivision”, he explained.

Prime Minister Holness said he has directed Minister with Responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements, Hon. Robert Montague, to ensure that Government lands are protected from illegal occupation and depletion, adding that “Government land belongs to the people of Jamaica and is held in trust for them”.

The Prime Minister also rejected the notion that Government land policies are intended to prevent Jamaicans from accessing land, emphasising instead that orderly land settlement is critical to economic growth and quality of life.

He cautioned that unplanned settlements often leave residents without proper roads, water, sewage and garbage collection, while making it extremely costly for the Government to provide those services after communities are already established.

The Prime Minister said to meet these challenges, the Government is rapidly increasing the number of formal housing solutions that are being brought to the market at price points that people can afford, while at the same time, trying to improve the efficiency of the formal registration and orderly settlement of land.

“These two things need to happen in parallel.  We need to build more houses, and we need to properly register and Title land, and we need a very progressive Land Settlement Policy where the Government makes land available to persons for farming and for housing development.  These things we are going to continue to do and improve on them, because if it isn’t done, then Jamaica will be challenged”, he stated. 

The Prime Minister further noted that where there is chaotic development, there will be crime, violence and poverty, adding that “how we develop the land determines the quality of life our people will enjoy”.

One hundred and twenty-four persons from more than 10 communities in Manchester received Certificates of Title at the Titling Ceremony, which was held at the Garden Hotel in Mandeville.