Bauxite Lands Land Titling Programme
HAVING COMMENCED in the 1950s, bauxite mining has traditionally been a significant contributor to the local economy. Historically, mining lands have been acquired either by lease from the Government of Jamaica or by way of arrangements with private landowners.
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has taken necessary measures to encourage and facilitate the bauxite and alumina companies to develop subdivisions to allow for the resettlement of persons whose lands were acquired for mining and related developments and who so wish to be resettled by the companies. The timely provision
of land titles to these persons by the bauxite and alumina companies is of paramount importance to allow them to formally unlock the value of these lands and to help them, their families and dependents break the cycle of poverty, facilitate entrepreneurship, and funnel small-scale investment into the economy.
In some cases, persons whose lands were acquired by bauxite and alumina companies have experienced inordinate delays, sometimes for several years, to obtain land titles for lands exchanged with the companies. This situation created a range of problems for these individuals, their families, dependents and the wider economy. Significantly, the value within the lands cannot be formally and properly realised without the titles.
In an effort to remedy this long-standing situation, in 2012 the Bauxite Lands Land Titling Committee (BLTCC) was established by the GOJ to help coordinate the activities of the bauxite and alumina companies to achieve these objectives.
This multi–sectoral public/ private-sector committee is housed in the ministry with responsibility for the mining/ minerals and chaired by the minister with responsibility for mining/minerals or his nominee. The BLLTC comprises representatives from:
a) GOJ entities associated with the land titling and subdivision permitting, development and handover process, and
b) Bauxite and alumina companies.
The BLLTC’s secretariat is provided by the Minerals Policy segment of the ministry in which it is housed, and reviews the processes involved and leading up to the titling, such as subdivisions approval and development, as well as to effect the increased and timely processing and handing over of land titles to persons whose lands they exchanged.
Much work has been done during the past several years: To date, approximately 955 titles have been generated since the establishment of the BLLTC. Even though the number of titles that have been issued are a quarter (25 per cent) of what is outstanding, the Ministry of Transport and Mining continues to work assiduously with the relevant stakeholders to bridge the gap and to assist the companies in addressing the challenges in the issuing of titles.
Note:* Data as at the end of the second quarter of 2019.