Government Writes Off Small Balances to Accelerate Land Titling
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced a significant policy decision under the Systematic Land Titling Programme.
The Government is to write off outstanding amounts of $150,000 or less to ensure more Jamaicans can obtain legal land titles without delay.
Speaking on Monday (August 11) at the Norwood, St. James Titling Ceremony, the Prime Minister explained that this decision will benefit property owners who have consistently made payments but remain just short of full settlement. The initiative is intended to eliminate small outstanding debts that have hindered residents from securing their titles and fully exercising their property rights.
The Prime Minister also announced that the Government has made a payment of $2.6 billion to the National Housing Trust towards the Housing Agency of Jamaica’s debt of $3.49 billion. This debt had previously created encumbrances on titles and limited the ability of persons to obtain full ownership.
“Now we are in a position where not only can we give you the titles for small balances owed, but whatever liens were on the titles before, we can remove those liens because we have paid down the loan that the previous government had taken out on your title.”
Since April 2021, more than 12,500 titles have been issued through the Systematic Land Registration process. This represents almost twice the number of titles issued through individual applications over the same period, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programme in delivering secure property ownership to Jamaicans.
Prime Minister Holness noted the positive impact of formal land ownership on community pride, stability, and investment.
In the meantime, residents of Norwood are now in a stronger position to use their titles as collateral, transfer property legally, and pass wealth to future generations.
Seventy residents received their land titles during the ceremony, marking another milestone in the Government’s mission to expand land ownership and promote economic empowerment across Jamaica.