Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart (right), cuts the ribbon to open the National Land Agency's exhibition following the launch of eLandjamaica - a new Internet service providing information on the agency. He is assisted by Elizabeth Stair (centre), CEO of the NLA. Looking on are Mosina Jordan (left), Mission Director USAID, Mr Garfield Knight (second left), Director of the NLA and Lois Bourne (second right). - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer THE NATIONAL Land Agency (NLA) has launched eLandjamaica, an Internet based service that provides select land information to customers.
The new service, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at a cost of US$170,000, is aimed at helping to speed up land queries at the NLA. eLandjamaica will be particularly useful to attorneys-at-law, land surveyors, valuation surveyors, real estate agents, developers, planners and financial institutions who want land information.
"We have taken what can be considered to be a first step in providing our land information in a more easily accessible manner to our clients," said Mrs. Elizabeth Stair, the Chief Executive Officer of the NLA, at the Hilton Kingston Hotel launch last Wednesday.
The eLandjamaica service combines information from four departments of the NLA - Land Titles, Surveys and Mapping, Land Valuation and Estate Management. Customers of the NLA will be able to take advantage of different services available, which include a Basic Property Search and an Interactive Map. The Interactive Map will allow customers to find different districts and locate the general location of properties through the use of a geographical information system (GIS).
"You will be able to get the value of the property, see a map and a copy of the title for the same property all at once," said Dean Peart, Minister of Land and Environment.
The NLA also took the opportunity to unveil a new logo and formally introduce its Citizen's Charter while highlighting goals for the future. "Although we have not succeeded in reducing the turnaround times on land titling matters to an acceptable level...I want to assure you that we are working assiduously to address this matter," said Mrs. Stair.
The launch of eLandjamaica, their new logo and the introduction of the Agency's Citizen's Charter were all activities planned for the celebration of NLA week.
The NLA, which is has been in existence since April 1, 2001, was formed from the merger of four government departments - the Office of Titles, Survey Department, Lands Department and Land Valuation Department.
