Crucial LACEP launched modernizing Jamaica’s land administration

Durrant Pate/Contributor

An agreement to strengthen Jamaica’s land administration framework through institutional innovation, technical capacity-building and advancements in geospatial technologies has been signed between the Governments of Jamaica and Korea.

The Land Administration Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP) was officially launched yesterday at Jamaica House. This project is designed to modernise the island’s land administration framework through a US$9 million (approximately JM$1.4 billion) partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The project will establish the Land Administration Innovation Centre (LAIC) at 84 Harbour Street, Kingston, equipping public sector professionals at every level with training in land surveying, cadastral mapping, GIS applications, cybersecurity, geoinformatics, and digital land record management, building Jamaica’s capacity to meet the evolving demands of sustainable development and digital transformation.

This move will strengthen Jamaica’s land administration system, accelerate land registration, and enhance technical capacity through institutional innovation and geospatial technologies. 

The project is being implemented by the National Land Agency (NLA) in collaboration with KOICA, Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX), and the University of Seoul.

The LAIC, which is a key component of the project, will serve as a training hub for public sector professionals in surveying, GIS applications, and digital land management. The project runs from 2026 to 2031, with stages covering institutional reform (2026–2027), establishment of the training hub (2028–2029), and full operationalisation.

Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, who spoke at the launch, highlighted the project as a critical move for economic opportunity, aiming to formalise land ownership and increase efficiency in the NLA.