Squatters have been taking over lands in the country for quite some time and lawsuits have been brought against some of them to quit the lands.

A Jamaican who owns a property in St. Catherine disclosed last month that he was shocked to discover that squatters had taken over his land.

"I bought a five-acre property in St. Catherine five years ago and because I was ill for about two years I had to go abroad for treatment," the property owner disclosed.

"When I returned to Jamaica last month it was only to discover that about six persons had built board houses on my property. I asked them who had given them permission to occupy the land and they are saying they are not moving. Some of them are even asking me where I expect them to live.

"I told them I am not responsible for them and if they want land they should contact their Member of Parliament to assist them.

"It has really come as a shock to me to know that people can be so brazen as to come on my land and are now refusing to leave. It is now going to cost me money to get a lawyer to take them to court to get them off my land.

"Squatting seems to be a real problem in Jamaica because I have noticed that even on some major highways there are squatter settlements which are very unsightly. I know there are poor people who need somewhere to live but the Government should take drastic measures to have them them relocated."

Many people will tell you that squatters have rights. This is because the law makes it clear that a squatter who occupies lands and has been doing so undisturbed for more than 12 years can take steps to obtain a title so that he or she can be be the registered owner of the property.

It is always best for land owners to ask someone to oversee their lands if they are going abroad for long periods.

In the case of government lands, a squatter cannot make any claim unless the squatter has been living on the land for more than 60 years.

'I asked them who had given them permission to occupy the land and they are saying they are not moving. Some of them are even asking me where I expect them to live.'