Lynford Simpson, Staff Reporter
THE DELAY in acquiring Government-owned lands to be used to relocate 1,100 informal settlers in three squatter communities in St. James, St. Ann and St. Andrew, under the Relocation 2000 Project, has resulted in a one year delay of the project.
Announced by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson last September, the first units, being built by money provided by the National Housing Trust (NHT), should have been ready for occupancy by March of this year and the project completed this September.
However, the units will not be ready before the end of the third quarter of 2001, project co-ordinator O.D. Ramtalie told The Gleaner Thursday.
"When I was appointed co-ordinator I was not provided with any land and I had to spend months trying to locate Government lands suitable for this project," said the former Construction Minister in the Patterson administration.
The squatter settlements to be relocated are Mona Commons in St. Andrew; Seville, St. Ann; and Railway Lane and Barracks Road, St. James.
In the case of Mona Commons, the University of the West Indies (UWI) has only agreed to give up 3.2 acres of land to relocate the more than 300 families occupying the site just across the road from the hospital.
"That can't hold more than maybe half the units that we need," Mr. Ramtalie said. Another 12 to 15 acres are needed to construct the more than 300 one-bedroom apartments and studio units to accommodate the Mona Common residents, he added.
The cost for the concrete structures is still being worked out but the NHT, which is playing the lead role, has committed to spend $170 million. It expects to recover the money from the beneficiaries who are expected to secure mortgage loans.
Other Government agencies that will play major roles are the Jamaica Public Service Company; National Water Commission; Petrojam and the Jamaica Defence Force which should provide site security and equipment management.
Mr. Ramtalie said the Relocation 2000 Secretariat had run into problems in its efforts to find an alternative site in the August Town area. He said 12 to 15 acres of land deemed suitable were identified but that the owner could not be located. The Secretariat also had to dismiss the idea of occupying lands near the Hope River because of the possibility of flooding and other environmental concerns.
The 120 families in Seville, north east St. Ann, are to be relocated to 30 acres of land in Bel Air, in the north western part of the parish.
Mr. Ramtalie explained that the Secretariat only received the lands in April.
At the third location, squatters are to be relocated from Railway Lane and Barracks Road in Montego Bay, St. James, to 54 acres of land in Providence Heights. Again there was a delay in acquiring the site which was owned by known Montego Bay landowner, Joe Witter. About 312 families are to be housed there.
