The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
Jamaica is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy and part of the Commonwealth realm.
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Displaying 56 - 60 of 77Agricultural Small Holdings Act.
This Act makes rules relative to contracts of tenancy of “small holdings” i.e. any parcel of land intended for cultivation or pasturage consisting of not less than one acre nor more than ten acres held under a contract of tenancy. The Act also makes provision for the establishment of Valuation Boards.The Act establishes conditions and criteria for tenancy contracts between landlords and tenants of agricultural small holdings. No crop-sharing clauses may be included in the tenancy contract.
Registration (Strata Titles) Act.
This Act makes provision for the division of real property in strata lots, defines rights of common ownership and related rights in relation with a strata plan, and provides for administration of common property and the registration of strata titles.Land under the operation of the Registration of Titles Act may be subdivided into strata lots in accordance with a strata plan registered by the Registrar of Titles in the manner provided by this Act. The proprietors of all the strata lots contained in any strata plan shall, upon registration of the strata plan, become a body corporate.
Agricultural Small Holdings (Crop-sharing) (Bananas) Regulations.
These Regulations prescribe that, for the purposes of subsection (2) of section 7 of the Agricultural Small Holdings Act, the provisions of subsection (1) of that section shall not apply to any contract of tenancy of not less than five years, allowing the landlord to receive as consideration for such contract not more than of one-third of any crop of bananas grown upon the land to which such contract relates. Section 7 of the Act places restrictions on crop-sharing in relation to tenancies.
Implements: Agricultural Small Holdings Act. (1997)
Registration of Titles Act.
This Act provides the registration of titles and the appointment of the Registrar of Titles and contains various rules relative to title in land and other rights and interests in respect of land, transfer of titles, etc.The Governor-General shall appoint a Registrar of Titles, Deputy Registrars of Titles and a Panel of Referees of Titles. The Act provides for the lodging of caveats with the Registrar of Titles by persons claiming an interest in land forbidding the bringing of land under the working of this Act.
Land Taxation (Relief) Regulations.
These Regulations implement provisions of the Land Taxation (Relief) Act with respect to: (a) application for relief certificates; (b) appeals against decisions of the Board to the Minister; (c) application for a de-rating certificate; (d) the forms of a relief certificate and a de-rating certificate.
Implements: Land Taxation (Relief) Act. (1990)