More than 250 families in Melanie and surrounding communities are expected to secure formal titles to the land they currently occupy, as the government resumes its land regularisation exercise in the area.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, speaking during an engagement with residents at the Melanie Nursery School on Wednesday, said the process is being advanced with the support of the Ministry of Housing and will provide residents with formal legal ownership of their properties.
He stated that the exercise covers both occupied properties and vacant lots that were previously allocated to residents, with surveys already conducted to establish the occupants and allocations.
“This exercise that we have embarked upon… will ultimately result in each of you getting title for the land that you are currently occupying,” he said.
The minister explained that formal title provides residents with greater security and economic value, allowing them to legally transfer or sell their property, use it as collateral when seeking financing, and pass the asset on to their children.
In addition, the government is also bearing the major costs associated with the regularisation process, with Minister Nandlall noting that residents are not expected to shoulder the substantial expenses involved in surveying and preparing the necessary documents.
He urged residents to cooperate with officials and ensure that all information provided, particularly names and ownership details, is accurate, as these details will be reflected in the final title documents.
One resident, Shenolfa Walters, who attended the engagement on behalf of her daughter who had been occupying land in Melanie for over 20 years, expressed her gratitude to the government for finally providing them with the land title document.
“I feel so happy, and I appreciate it. The people of Melanie thank the government because without them, this could not have been possible,” she said.
The Attorney General said the pace of the process will depend significantly on residents’ cooperation.
He noted that some may have to make adjustments to fences, bridges or other structures to bring their properties into compliance with the approved layout.
The regularisation of Melanie is also being pursued ahead of its proposed development as one of Government’s pilot model villages, with the aim of resolving outstanding land issues and bringing greater order to the community.