By Michael Spence
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| Michael Spence |
Let’s put the long theological debates aside. For the approximately 1.5 million or more landless Jamaicans, Jesus, the Pope, and Christianity cannot just be an intellectual exercise. It must mean something on the ground.
A Short History Matters
Catholicism first came to Jamaica with Columbus in 1494. It was the official religion under Spanish rule. That ended in 1655 when the British captured the island. For the next 130 years, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in Jamaica.
The faith returned during the Haitian Revolution. Fleeing French planters came with their priests, capital, and enslaved people.
They were granted land and built churches and schools. The Archdiocese of Kingston was formally erected in 1837.
That colonial history is important because it explains how both the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches came to hold "significant parcels of land" in Jamaica. Much of it was never properly titled.
What We Don’t Know
Nobody has published an exact figure for how much land the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches own. There is no comprehensive national register.
What we do know
- Anglicans: The Diocese holds 80 or more parcels. Only about half are used for churches and schools. The rest are idle or have squatting issues.
- Catholics: The Archdiocese operates 31 parishes and major institutions like Campion, St. George’s, Immaculate, and Holy Trinity. No public figure exists for the total acres out of Jamaica’s 2.7 million acres.
- Tax: Lands used for worship, school, or cemetery are exempt. Idle parcels are not, and some churches now struggle to pay.
Churches are _often described_ as “second only to the Government” in land ownership. The Government holds 1,080,000 acres. But without an audit, that claim cannot be verified.
The Problem & The Solution
The 3 biggest issues are untitled lands, idle lands being squatted on, and scattered records across parishes.
As Jamaica tries to eliminate squatting and poverty, the churches must be part of the solution. Most other churches only have church plots; some even squat.
I propose a full church land audit. Then implement my "2 Square Solution" — granting small parcels to the landless. This is not about _freeness. This is about unlocking potential for per capita GDP growth. "Every human being has a right to a liveable space."
We cannot remain the 2nd poorest and one of the most murderous countries in the Caribbean.
Churches, get on board. Land = Dignity. Land = Development. In Jesus’ Name.
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Interesting concept. We do have the most churches per sq mile. Maybe it is time for the churches to not only save souls to live in the hereafter, but to also survive in the Now!. Foundation Fren woukd like to know what happens after everyone gets their house spot.? How will that spot be divided amongst the heirs?. War eena Babylon.Maybe the answer lies in multi story dwellings.
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