Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORTLAND:
SEVERAL HOUSES owned by informal settlers at the Winnifred Beach property in Fairy Hill, Portland, were demolished by a work team from the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), yesterday.
After a late cancellation to its intended demolition plan on Monday, the UDC demolition team comprising more than 30 men started destroying houses about 9:15 a.m., despite cries from the householders who were forced to watch the exercise.
A large contingent of police was on hand to prevent the scene from turning ugly, as the settlers were involved in verbal clashes with members of the UDC work team.
Deputy Superintendent of Police and operations officer for Portland, Hartnell Brown, praised the police for displaying a high level of professionalism.
"The settlers are upset as their houses are being destroyed," said Mr. Brown. "They, however, should understand that we are here to ensure that order is maintained, and I believe that they were made aware of this demolition exercise."
Efforts by The Gleaner to speak to a UDC official who was present were unsuccessful, as the official quickly disappeared after the settlers started to behave boisterously.
One settler, Moureen Simpson who had her one-bedroom house torn down, leaving a family of seven homeless including a two-year-old boy, was in tears. According to the woman, she was unaware that the UDC would be carrying out any demolition exercise.
ADDITIONAL HOUSES TO GO
So far four houses have been torn down in the Fairy Hill area, and an additional 10 houses are still expected to be demolished by the UDC.
The Corporation had served eviction notices on the settlers and vendors occupying the Winnifred Beach property, in October last year. They were given an extension which expired on April 15.
The Winnifred Beach property has been earmarked for major development by the UDC, to make the area more marketable to tourists and local residents.
