TTT Live Online Ministry Of Land And Legal Affairs Rolls Out Land For The Landless Programme

Obtaining land as an ordinary citizen is no longer beyond reach.

This, as the Land Settlement Agency under the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs launched Phase I of the Land for the Landless Programme on Tuesday.

Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein assured that the Land for the Landless Programme is rooted in social justice, equity, and the enduring belief that access to land is fundamental to dignity, security, and opportunity.

“This programme was instituted to correct a deep and long-standing reality in our society, where too many law-abiding citizens, despite working exceedingly hard, found it very difficult to own a piece of land.”

He explained that the programme was created to empower low- and middle-income citizens, State employees and recent tertiary graduates through the facilitation of residential lots at a subsidised cost.

“No matter who you are, once you are qualified, 60% of the lands will go to landless citizens, 20% of the lands will go to State employees, and the third category is one that’s very close to my heart: recent graduates of tertiary education institutions. And I think that is important because when you empower young people at that age to own land, they become involved in more productive activity.”

Minister Hosein assured that the process will be swift.

“While I don’t want to tell you one day or two days, it will be a very expeditious exercise. Also, this is just Phase 1. In Phase 1, we are doing 500 lots. In the other phases, we will have other lots going on board. So we are not going to have this process taking very long.”

Chairman of the Land Settlement Committee, Nisha Mathura-Allahar, explained the eligibility for the programme.

“The Land for the Landless Programme is designed for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who are landless. They are over the age of 18 and earning up to $30,000 per month in household income, and also who have not also previously benefited from a State housing subsidy.”

Mrs. Mathura-Allahar said successful applicants will be granted a Deed of Lease for a term of 199 years.

Applications for the programme will open on February 23rd for a period of 30 calendar days.

Watch the full video on YouTube