Minister Saddam Hosein Reports Major Progress In Land, Legal And Housing Reform #TTTLiveOnline

Minister Saddam Hosein reflected on what he described as a wide-ranging and impactful period in office, following the restructuring of the Ministry to include land, legal, and intellectual property responsibilities.

Among the major achievements highlighted was the long-awaited distribution of residential leases to former Caroni 1975 workers after more than two decades of delays.

“That is why, within the first 100 days of office, we distributed over 300 leases to ex-Caroni workers. Then we had another tranche coming with about 200 leases. So we have about over 600 or so leases so far that have been distributed to former Caroni workers after waiting 23 years.”

He explained that the Ministry has also accelerated squatter regularisation through the Land Settlement Agency, issuing Certificates of Comfort which paved the way for secure tenure and eventual ownership.

“There’s a very small fee that they purchase the lands for, and we give them a 30-year period in which they can purchase, and then we move them into a deed of lease. When you have a deed of lease, it means that it’s a registered document saying that this is notice to the world that I have ownership of this parcel of land.”

On the housing front, the incorporation of Landmark TT Properties is set to unlock State land for modern residential developments through Public-Private Partnerships, without direct government subsidy.

“So we know where the State lands are. We know where there is available lands. So we have identified particular sites of lands, and Landmark TT will now be able, as a public-private partnership engine, to engage private developers to construct homes on State lands. However, the houses are not going to be subsidised homes. They’re going to be sold at market value, and the developers will have to put out all of their cash. The Government is not paying for this. We are providing the lands. We have the lands, and the developers build on the lands.”

Significant progress was also made through Legal Affairs, with the Companies Registry amnesty bringing thousands of businesses back into compliance and the launch of bedside birth registration at hospitals, allowing parents to register newborns digitally.