JAMAICA | Holness looking at Frome Sugar lands for Little Bay "squatters"

MONTEGO BAY,  Jamaica, April 7, 2022 - In the wake of the threatened demolition of homes in Little Bay, Westmoreland,  Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday held an informal meeting with some of the individuals who resisted attempts on Wednesday to remove them from a private property in Little Bay.

This morning it was my distinct pleasure to officially break ground for the new and improved Little London Police Station in Westmoreland.

During my presentation, I highlighted that my Government continues to make significant investments in our Nation’s security. pic.twitter.com/iIxpx6SyGX

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) April 7, 2022

Holness, who was on Thursday breaking ground for construction of the Little London Police Station, spoke with some of the informal settlers who had gathered yesterday morning near the site of  the ground breaking ceremony.

President of the Little Bay Citizens Association, Jess Beach, interfaced with the prime minister she was pleased with how he addressed the residents.

Ms Beach said Mr. Holness noted  that the land dispute was a private matter but said he would make enquiries "about places where some of us can be relocated".

On Wednesday, the alleged property owner sent heavy duty equipment to demolish houses on the property. However, the occupants, many of whom have lived there undisturbed for over seventy years, insisted that they would not leave, and  poured gasoline on the equipment and threatened to set it ablaze.

Holness told the ground breaking ceremony that special attention will be placed on providing suitable housing solutions for residents of Westmoreland.

He said  he has been in consultation with several entities to provide information on lands available for development.

"I have asked the Sugar Company of Jamaica, NLA [National Land Agency] and other agencies that have land in the area to give me a full profile portfolio of the lands that are available and we're going to develop them for housing. Will put in place a process to have houses built on these lands and we will make the houses available through the regular channels of the NHT," he said.

On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding called on the prime minister to intervene on behalf nof the residents nof Little Bay and surrounding communities, who have been threatened with eviction, despite many have lived on the property undisturbed for in excess of fifty years.

Golding said “Prime Minister Holness must move with urgency to protect the legitimate interests of residents of Little Bay who are threatened with imminent forcible eviction, even though some of them have lived there for upwards of  50 years”.

The Opposition Leader said “many of these residents are willing to purchase the properties on which they have built substantial homes and business places. The Government must intervene and arrive at an acceptable solution that avoids further escalation of this conflict.”  

Some residents have been paying taxes for these lands, and have sought representation from the Government through their Member of Parliament Moreland Wilson, but have not seen any intervention from the authorities to address their plight.