Clifton residents receive land titles

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Some 300 Certificates of Titles were awarded to residents at the Clifton Playfield in Clifton, St. Catherine on Tuesday morning.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the distribution of the titles marks a pivotal moment for the community, fulfilling a decade-long aspiration for many families.

 

He also listed a number of other developments in the pipeline for the area. 

 

"As we develop this area, the infrastructure that is developed must also benefit the people of Clifton. So as the sewage is developed here, it should not be a challenge to have the community of Clifton connected. As we bring water in, it should not be a challenge for the people of Clifton to get water. We have a concept of social water, but water is not free. There will be social water. There is a certain level of consumption which we consider social. But above that, we expect that persons will make their fair contribution," the Prime Minister told the gathering. 

 

"The amenities, such as where we are now, your football field, your play area and recreation area, and all of those are things, we will be contributing to. But more importantly, as you get your titles, which have new boundaries, some of them, you must be prepared for the establishment of proper roadways," he added. 

 

In October 2022, Prime Minister Holness ordered that about 30 illegally erected housing projects on Sugar Company of Jamaica lands in Clifton be demolished.

 

This came after it was revealed that gangsters had been selling lands in the area under the pretext of ownership or building on them, which posed a security threat to development.

 

Residents of the informal settlement, the opposition People's National Party and other members of the public protested against the state's action.

 

The operation was eventually aborted.

 

Following that decision, Prime Minister Holness indicated that registered titles for more than 350 residents were being prepared for distribution.

 

SCJ Holdings Limited, through its Community Regularisation Programme, has also been assisting with efforts to enable families of former sugar workers who are now settling on sugar estate lands owned by SCJH to become legitimate property owners.