real estate

Verdict still out on land rights bill

A bill concerning island and coastal land titling pends a final decision.

Jorge Fernández/LA PRENSA

postponed: Debate over the bill will resume next week.1131966

Dozens of countryside residents, farmers, investors, lawyers, and agricultural producers congregated yesterday to demand the adoption of Bill 459 in efforts to establish an expedited procedure for coastal and island land ownership.

The legislative bill, proposed by legislator Freidi Torres, suffered eleven revisions recommended by the executive branch; changes that substantially altered the original draft.

On behalf of small-scale farmers, Julio Bermúdez said they are fighting to ensure that the original sale price of six dollars per hectare is restored for farmers who have worked these lands all their lives, many of them inheriting the land from their grandparents.

Bermúdez added that the price of $100 per hectare proposed by Legislator Torres is exceptionally high for persons of humble means, the majority of whom, do maintain official rights of possession.

César Carrasquilla, head of a civil society land management program, agrees, commenting that prices for coastal and island sites ranging from $100 to $50 million is absurd, and suggesting that the issue be subjected to due review by a subcommittee until consensus is reached. The civil servant further pleaded with authorities to grant priority legislations to residents holding rights of possession, as they are the majority, and unfortunately the weakest, group involved in these land disputes.

Ovidio Díaz Espino, a lawyer specializing in land issues, also advocated for retaining the original price of six dollars per hectare for the residents with possessory rights.

Díaz Espino further opined that, at the end of deliberations, the legislative body should ideally establish one common inter-institutional procedure for titling lands of those holding rights of possession. At present, there are differing criteria across the corresponding government entities. “If the resident, after having certified his or her land, wishes to sell, even to a minister of the state, that is their right,” he said.

After three hours of consultations, the commission decided to re-commence discussions next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.