As Jamaica’s real estate landscape evolves with the expansion of the Ian Fleming International Airport, the government’s use of eminent domain—the power to acquire private property for public use—comes into focus. Eminent domain allows the government to purchase private land, typically providing fair compensation to landowners, for projects that serve a public purpose, such as infrastructure upgrades. With American Airlines set to increase flights to Ian Fleming International in Boscobel, St. Mary, to daily service starting December 5, 2024, landowners and investors in areas like Ocho Rios stand to see notable benefits if the government decides to expand the airport further.
What Is Eminent Domain?
Eminent domain gives the government authority to acquire private land for projects that improve public facilities or infrastructure, as long as it compensates owners fairly. In Jamaica, this compensation typically reflects the property's market value, meaning landowners receive a price based …
