THE Ministry of Housing and Water has intensified efforts to accelerate the processing of government land titles following high-level discussions with the Land Registry aimed at resolving operational challenges caused by a surge in new housing developments.
The engagement, led by Housing Minister Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry Vanessa Benn, took place recently as officials sought solutions to growing backlogs linked to the rapid expansion of State housing schemes.
The ministerial delegation, which included Director of Operations Denise King-Tudor, Head of the Corporate Legal Secretariat Hannifah Jordan, and Head of the Conveyance Department Esther Stephen, met with Registrar of Lands Rosalie Robertson, along with Assistant Registrars Wendella Austin-Ceasar and Michelle Richards-Lord.
Discussions centred on the sharp increase in Certificates of Title generated by accelerated housing development programmes undertaken by the Central Housing and Planning Authority. Officials said the expansion has placed significant operational pressure on the Land Registry, contributing to longer processing times.
The Registrar confirmed that additional registration areas have been activated and working hours extended to prioritise government-related titles. Currently, processing takes approximately three months, but officials expect timelines to improve once the existing backlog is reduced.
Following the meeting, ministers toured the Registry’s facilities, where they observed operational constraints, including challenges related to document storage and workflow capacity.
The Housing Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continued collaboration with the Land Registry, emphasising that improving efficiency in title processing remains critical to ensuring timely land ownership documentation for citizens benefiting from new housing schemes.