LUCEA, Hanover — Some 56 residents within three communities of Hanover were on Saturday presented with certificate of titles by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) for their properities.

The residents, from the communities of Eglin Town, Fisherman’s Village (renamed Haughton Meadows) and Bulls Bay, received the documents during a ceremony held at the Lucea Anglican Church Hall in Hanover.

They have been occupying the lands under Operation PRIDE project since the 1990's, and had recently completed the acquisition process.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Housing, Dr Morais Guy, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, underscored the importance and value of a land title.

“When you use that title as collateral, what you are telling us as a people and the financial institution is that, I want to borrow money so I can fix up my house, so I can send my children to school, so I can put a taxi on the road…” he said.

“When you do that ladies and gentlemen you are not only assisting yourself in the process, but you are growing this economy of Jamaica which is in urgent need of growth right now, ” Guy added.