The Land Settlement Agency (LSA) is advising the public to exercise caution following the circulation of a social media advertisement promoting the sale of “Squatting Land” in Valencia and suggesting that purchasers can acquire a Certificate of Comfort (CoC).
The LSA wishes to make it unequivocally clear that a Certificate of Comfort (CoC) is not transferable.
A CoC is issued only to an eligible applicant under the provisions of the State Land (Regularisation of Tenure) Act and cannot be bought, sold, assigned, or transferred from one person to another.
The Agency also reminds the public that applications for a Certificate of Comfort have been closed for
more than two decades. To have been eligible, an individual must have:
- Submitted an application for a Certificate of Comfort on or before October 27, 2000; and
- Been in occupation of the dwelling house standing on state land on or before January 1, 1998.
The statutory deadline for applications has long expired, and the Land Settlement Agency has no legal authority to accept new applications or extend the application period. Any representation that a purchaser can now obtain a Certificate of Comfort is therefore false and misleading.
The LSA further reminds the public that the unlawful occupation, sale, purchase, transfer, or allocation of State land is illegal and may result in investigation and prosecution under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
Members of the public are strongly urged not to make payments or enter into agreements based on advertisements or representations offering squatting land for sale or promising the acquisition or transfer of a Certificate of Comfort.
The Land Settlement Agency remains committed to safeguarding the public interest by ensuring that State land matters are administered in accordance with the law. Members of the public are encouraged to verify any information relating to State land through the Commissioner of State Lands or the Land Settlement Agency before entering into any transaction.