The Land Settlement Agency (LSA) was established by Act of Parliament No. 25 of 1998.  It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment and commenced formal operations in 1999. Its mandate is to “protect certain squatters from ejectment from State Lands; to facilitate the acquisition of leasehold titles by both squatters and tenants in designated areas and to provide for the establishment of land settlement areas”.

There are over 250 squatting sites on State Lands in Trinidad and Tobago with approximately 23,000 squatting households.  The Agency’s mandate of granting land tenure, where possible, and the provision of new housing lots has been re-affirmed by the LSA’s Board of Directors.

Dialogue with various Agencies and Ministries is being vigorously pursued with a view to expediting the delivery of Certificates of Comfort, Statutory Leases and Deeds of Lease to qualifying residents.