In his 2025 Sectoral Debate presentation, Member of Parliament for South West Clarendon Lothan Cousins laid out what the Opposition described as a clear and people-focused plan to unlock government lands and build an ownership society grounded in fairness, dignity, and economic justice.
Cousins announced that under the next People’s National Party (PNP) government, long-term occupants of government-owned land will be allowed to purchase these properties at affordable rates, formalising tenure and providing the security families need to plan for the future. “We are not giving away land,” said Cousins. “But if you’ve lived on government land for decades, you deserve a path to ownership. That’s how we build pride, progress, and independence, not just for individuals, but for the nation.”
The approach draws on successful examples, such as Dominica’s land regularisation programme, where long-term occupants were given legal ownership, helping to stabilise and uplift entire communities. Cousins stressed that regularising informal settlements is a win-win, as it provides land to the landless, restores trust in the government, and generates revenue through formal leasing and sales.
He emphasised that the approach will not be one-size-fits-all, but will involve consultation, flexibility, and, where necessary, relocation to ensure sustainability and safety.
The plan also includes a major affordability measure. He said that under a future PNP government, the cost of land will be excluded from NHT housing prices, reducing unit costs by $2.5 to $3 million. This would make homeownership more accessible to young people, teachers, nurses, public servants, persons with disabilities, and low-income earners.
“When we remove the land cost, we bring homeownership within reach for the people who need it most. That’s people-first governance,” Cousins said.
Cousins also called attention to the need to modernise the Registration of Titles Act (ROTA), which currently requires 60 years of continuous occupation to claim Crown land, a standard he described as unworkable and out of step with global practice. “In the United Kingdom, the period has been reduced to 10 years. We propose reducing Jamaica’s requirement to 25 years, with the exception of foreshore lands. That’s more than enough time for the State to act responsibly,” he said.
He noted that many of these same communities have been receiving public services for years, roads, water, and electricity, further underscoring the urgency of legalising their status. “We’ve connected the utilities. We’ve paved the roads. It’s time we finish the job and give people the legal recognition they deserve.”
The Member of Parliament described the plan as the largest transfer of wealth from the State to the people in modern Jamaican history, a necessary step toward true economic independence. “This is not charity, it is justice,” he declared. “The next PNP government will put land in the hands of the people and finally break the cycle of poverty that untitled land has created for generations.”