Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has argued that expanding land ownership and accelerating the titling of informal settlements are critical to Jamaica’s economic development, while describing property ownership as one of the most effective ways to break intergenerational poverty.

Holness was speaking on Thursday at a land title distribution ceremony, where 40 residents from the communities of Ackee Walk and Jackson Town in St Andrew received registered titles to the properties they occupy.

The beneficiaries comprised 10 residents from Ackee Walk and 30 from Jackson Town.