Land grab fears

A St. Thomas resident, identified only as John Duffus for his safety, is bracing for a legal fight over a half-acre property he has occupied and meticulously maintained for more than 15 years. His claim to the land is being challenged by another individual seeking to acquire title through Jamaica's adverse possession laws.

Adverse possession, often referred to as 'squatter's rights,' allows individuals to claim legal ownership of a property if they have occupied it openly, continuously, and without the owner's permission for a specified period. For Duffus, who has invested years of labor and care into the land, the prospect of losing it to a legal claim is devastating.

Fearing potential reprisal, Duffus has requested anonymity from The Sunday Gleaner. His situation highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding land ownership and occupation in Jamaica, where long-term residents can face challenges to their de facto control over properties they have treated as their own.