Fitz Jackson, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine Southern, points to Prime Minister Andrew Holness as they address residents near Clifton in Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine on Friday, October 7.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness and MP Fitz Jackson
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has sought to defend the government's decision to demolish illegally erected structures near Clifton, St. Catherine.
The Prime Minister toured the area Friday morning and spoke with residents, some of whom denied being given notice prior to the demolition.
The residents also refuted the Prime Minister's announcement in Parliament Wednesday that gangsters had been selling the lands under pretext of ownership, or building on them.
"When we examined the situation, we only acted when we were certain that certain steps were taken. So we had the evidence of the posting of stop orders," Mr. Holness said before he was interrupted by a resident, who exclaimed, "That's a lie!"
The Prime Minister maintained that the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings, which holds the land, had posted stop orders "twice". He added that he was informed the SCJ had been "trying to find people who were doing the structures that were incomplete [but] nobody would come forward".
Again, the resident disputed that account, saying she was "here everyday".
Noting that the government is sympathetic to their plight, Mr. Holness urged residents to engage in discussions with SCJ Holdings.
Demolition crews knocked down about 10 structures on Thursday. The exercise has since been halted.
The lands in question are managed by SCJ Holdings and have been earmarked for agricultural purposes.
'SCJ and government's fault'
Member of Parliament for St. Catherine Southern Fitz Jackson, who was also in the area on Friday, said Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings should have halted construction of the illegal structures near Clifton when he called the matter to their attention last year.
"I don't have any authority cause I don't own any land. I went to the owner of the land, which is SCJ and say 'Look, that piece of land there is being occupied. It is your land.'... SCJ did nothing," he complained.
Mr. Jackson said SCJ Holdings and the government should share blame for allowing the illegal activity to continue.
He said he will be engaging the company in discussions to assist the affected residents.
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