ONE of the largest international land surveying companies, the Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation (KCSC), has signed an agreement with Geoland Title Limited, a Jamaican land management company, for the rapid expansion of the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP).

The Korean entity which is recognised worldwide for having the best practices in land surveying and cadastral mapping internationally, is investing millions in the project and will save the Government of Jamaica substantial expenditure.

It is estimated that US$2 million is being pumped into the project or about $180 million Jamaican dollars. Currently, approximately half of the 650,000 land parcels on the tax roll, are registered.

President of the KCSC, Sung-Yeul Lee said he was honoured to be a part of the arrangement. His company has a track record of successfully completing projects for the government of South Korea related to land consolidation and the digital cadastral map inclusive of urban redevelopment, enhancement of squatted area and environment.

Speaking at the recent launch of Phase II of the project in St Elizabeth, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that he is excited about the potential of the project.

“Land titling is important to any society, particularly to Jamaica because there are many people who own lands and land represents a powerful asset. That land is wealth, but they are not able to use that wealth effectively because they do not have a title,” he said.

Golding said that the government has instituted various programmes to expedite the process of land titling but it requires far more institutional capacities. He said he was delighted at the partnership and hoped to see how well the resources brought to the table will accelerate the process.

Recent LAMP surveys suggest that, as a result of informal subdivisions, the number of land parcels may be 1.5 million or more. It is therefore possible that lower than 20 per cent of landowners have a Certificate of Title which is the best proof of ownership of land in Jamaica.

This means that the vast majority of landowners have restricted access to meaningful credit, cannot legally sell or transfer their lands and often cannot benefit from the agricultural expansion programmes which require evidence of land ownership. It is with this in mind that the National Land Policy identified the insecurity of land tenure exemplified by the lack of land titles as a major national problem.

Advocates of capitalism consider private property to be essential for the construction of a prosperous society. Private ownership of land ensures the land will be put to productive use and its value protected by the landowner. If the owners must pay property taxes, this forces the owners to maintain a productive output from the land to keep taxes current. Private property also attaches a monetary value to land, which can be used to trade or as collateral. Private property thus is an important part of capitalisation within the economy.

Some also say private property gives its owners stability, as well as a vested interest in the enforcement of property law. Citizens that own private property have a vested interest in fighting corruption of government officials as in cases where corruption is a direct threat to private property and the laws that govern maintaining private property.

Real estate is one of the largest sectors of the economy, it provides an important source of wealth building and makes a significant contribution to the economy.

Land ownership and acquisition continues to be the ladder for individual betterment and was the stimulus that drove growth in the US economy for 250 years.

All around the world, private land development meets people’s needs by providing places to live, work, shop and recreate. It also provides a tax base for cities and communities to help support public services.

Phase II of the initiative will entail major expansion of LAMP’s activities in St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Manchester, some of the parishes deemed to have the lowest percentage of title distribution. It will also incorporate government stakeholder agencies like the National Lands Agency (NLA) and the local planning authorities.

According to Robert Montague, state minister, the partnership with KCSC will provide for the mobilisation of legal and land surveying teams in the targeted parishes.

“We will be focused on land that is owned by individuals who find it difficult to prove ownership. This is our area of primary concern,” the state minister said.

Advanced land surveying technologies will also be introduced, aimed at improving LAMP’s capacity to deliver land titles in a timely manner, while a digital cadastral map will be completed, which will be used for planning and development.

Since its inception, LAMP has seen upwards of 3,000 parcels of land being registered and titles updated.

“Government recognising that many landowners can’t access the benefits available to a registered land owner, decided to move steadfastly with the programme,” he added.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Christopher Tufton, has said that farmers will reap tremendous benefits from the LAMP programme.

“We have over 25,000 farmers in St. Elizabeth, and I see this as an empowerment mechanism to empower our farmers to use their titles to access financing, so that they can produce more for themselves, their families, and for Jamaica,” the minister said while addressing the launch at the Junction Guest House, St Elizabeth.

Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government Robert Montague, said that the initiative is not solely for agriculture, but is part of the Government’s plans for rural and national development, as over the next 24 months some 12,000 persons in St Elizabeth will receive titles.

“The Government has a thrust to improve agriculture, and St Elizabeth has the largest parcels of lands that are not titled. Once the farmers have tenure, they can access the various programmes that the ministry of agriculture has,” the minister told reporters.

Project Director at LAMP, Gloria Brown, said that the programme will change parishes, such as St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon, where it is to be established, eventually ensuring that each parcel of land is part of the formal economy and is clearly identified and documented.

“We have facilitated our clients, recognising their importance and needs, and have adopted the approach of serving them where they are. Hence, we have set up our offices throughout the parishes in which we operate, relying on the goodwill of churches, community centres and government agencies to provide accommodation,” Miss Brown stated.

LAMP provides a central “one stop shop” in obtaining titles at a fraction of the cost. All land surveys and legal matters are dealt with in one place and certain government taxes and fees are waived. The programme is operated out of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).