Residents of Ackee Walk and Jackson Town to get land titles

The Government is taking steps to regularise landownership in Ackee Walk and Jackson Town in St Andrew North Western, enabling residents to obtain titles for properties they have lived on for several years.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, said the Government will be issuing a ministerial order to declare these two communities under the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification (Special Provisions) Act.

This will involve the establishment of an adjudication committee to ascertain boundaries and resolve disputes, paving the way for the eventual transfer of titles to the rightful owners.

Addressing a townhall at Meadowbrook Church of Christ on Monday, Holness assured the residents of the Government's commitment to resolving this long-standing challenge faced by the residents.

"The process today is to bring together all the entities of Government that can solve this problem of your title," he said.

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“We do lament that it has taken some time but it is happening now, and for that I am very happy for you and I look forward to touring these areas and seeing you as landowners," he added

Minister of Finance and the Public Service and Member of Parliament, Dr Nigel Clarke, told the residents of Ackee Walk and Jackson Town that they have an important role to play in the process of formalising their landownership.

"It's going to be the citizens' responsibility now to take advantage of that process, adhere to it, provide the material and the documentation that are necessary so that the process can work in your interest," he noted.

The commitment of the Government to regularise and formalise communities like Ackee Walk and Jackson Town not only addresses landownership issues but also contributes to national security and community development.

The Prime Minister argued that if residents are empowered as owners of their property, it eliminates the space for dons to come in and establish dominance under the guise of providing protection.

“One of the reasons why communities don't fully develop when they start from a process of informality is this issue of established ownership. So, in our intervention in the communities, we want to give you full ownership of your property so that you can become the master of your property and become the warden of peace in your community,” he said.

He said the Government's responsibility is to resolve any land dispute issues once occupancy and possession is established and provide support towards full ownership.

"We have to get these lands surveyed and, in some instances, resurveyed... . This expedited process is being done right across Jamaica in selected communities but we are really focused on Kingston and St Andrew," he noted.

- JIS News