Jamaica: The National Land Agency (NLA), in collaboration with Globe Insurance Company Ltd., launched an interactive map of the island, called ‘iMap Jamaica’. The map enables users to access information via the web base application, eLandJamaica. The application allows users to obtain copies of land related documents, such as certificates of title, valuation roll reports and deposited plans.
The new programme will be available to the public free of cost and will allow users anywhere in the world to spatially identify any parcel of land in Jamaica and access related land information. Speaking at the launch in New Kingston, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, said that the initiative is in keeping with the government’s vision of public /private partnership in development.
The Minister commended the companies on their work and said the iMap is an excellent tool for land interest groups and persons.
As per the agreement between the two, the NLA will provide Globe Insurance with pertinent land related data for the insurance company’s internal monitoring purposes.Globe Insurance, in exchange, will finance the design of the map application and customise it to suit the needs of the NLA customers. Technical resources in the creation of iMap Jamaica were jointly supplied by the two entities.
While comparing the product with Google Earth, Vaz said iMap can empower Jamaicans to access and use land information in ways that were thought impossible not so long ago. “iMap can enable us to zoom in and out and even virtually glide over the length and breadth of the island to navigate and explore, not only the urban and town centres of our island, but also the rural and not so known corners of our rich landscape,” he remarked.
He said iMap can be used as a tool by many to assist in proper planning, development and land management. “I do believe that an important and commendable innovation like iMap Jamaica does support the government’s strategy for transforming Jamaica’s economy from developing status into a developed economy by 2030,” he argued.
The Minister informed that the Spatial Data Management Division of the Office of the Prime Minister is working, in collaboration with the NLA, to commission the Virtual Reference System network, which will assist in the provision of accurate and timely spatial data. “This is a network of 13 GPS stations strategically located across the island that will provide service 24 hours/ day, seven days/ week,” he noted.
Source: JIS
