Opposition Parliamentarian Julian Robinson, representing St Andrew South Eastern, has formally requested the establishment of a Joint Select Committee (JSC) to scrutinize the groundbreaking Shared Communities Act 2026. This proposed legislation, introduced in Jamaica’s House of Representatives by Land Titling Minister Robert Montague on Tuesday, promises to fundamentally transform the operational framework of gated communities nationwide.
Robinson immediately called for parliamentary review following the bill’s first reading, emphasizing that the legislation’s profound implications warrant thorough stakeholder consultation. The opposition lawmaker, whose constituency contains Jamaica’s highest concentration of gated communities, cautioned that the bill could significantly alter legal and financial obligations for property owners and residents.
The proposed act introduces sweeping changes including mandatory maintenance fees, potential property seizures for unpaid assessments, and substantial fines reaching $1 million Jamaican dollars for violations of community corporation bylaws. These newly empowered corporations would gain authority to establish regulations governing common property management, administration, and usage within registered shared communities.
Minister Montague responded that the initial tabling merely constituted a first reading, assuring representatives that the government would maintain its tradition of stakeholder consultation before advancing the legislation. The bill additionally establishes a robust regulatory framework under the Real Estate Board’s oversight, granting the board authority to process community registrations, issue operational certificates, and authorize property sales by community corporations.
Notably, the legislation addresses absentee ownership by requiring non-resident proprietors to appoint local representatives to fulfill statutory obligations. Judicial enforcement mechanisms would enable community corporations to seek court remedies against bylaw violations, with courts authorized to impose severe financial penalties for non-compliance.