Landowners in Jamaica’s bauxite-rich parishes have found that surface ownership does not guarantee control of what lies beneath. The Mining Act vests mineral rights in the Crown, and mining licences can be granted over privately owned land without the surface owner’s consent. This report examines the legal framework, compensation rights, and conflicts that arise between mining operations and property owners.

Restrictive covenants recorded on Jamaican property titles impose binding obligations on owners and successors in title, limiting how the land can be used or developed. Breaches of these covenants — whether by converting residential property to commercial use, building beyond permitted heights, or subdividing in contravention of covenant conditions — expose owners to injunctions, damages, and enforcement action. This report examines how covenant disputes arise and the remedies available.