Trelawny resident demands answers from NWA over land issue

 

By Prince Moore  

 

 

A resident of Lorrimers, Trelawny is seeking answers from the National Works Agency (NWA) after her property was used to construct a roadway without a formal agreement.

 

The woman, Cynthia Watt, claims that in addition to not being paid for the use of her land, she also suffered damage during the works carried out by the NWA teams.

 

The property was used to realign the roadway after the original structure was severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. 

 

Ms. Watt told Radio Jamaica News that a discussion was held with representatives of the NWA for her land to be used to reopen the road.

 

But she says there was no formal agreement and she is yet to hear how she will be paid. 

 

Ms. Watt says the representative from the NWA proceeded to cut the roadway through her property even without confirming how or when she will be remunerated.

 

"He decided to give me $3.2 million. Until now I don't see them bring it come. He came and just hot, hot and start measure up place and measure up place and how di road fi fix and all dem supm deh. Almost night he came here. So, I said to him seh, 'How dis going guh because mi tings dem...?' Him call di RADA man same time and he said to them seh dem must start write down what and what mi have on di place. And dem start to write down, ask mi what and what I have plant on it and mi tell dem."

 

With the takeover of the property Ms. Watt said several crops were destroyed by the NWA which further affected her earnings.

 

"I have banana, I have ginger, mi have scallion, mi have thyme, mi have grapefruit, mi have the curry ginger - weh dem call it again? Turmeric," she outlined.

 

Community Relations Officer for the NWA's Western Region, Janel Ricketts, was unable to address the issue of payment for use of the property.

 

She said a temporary arrangement was made between the NWA's technical team and the property owner.

 

"It's not a situation where we have bought the property. It's a temporary situation to facilitate ease of movement of road users until the permanent fix in terms of reconstructing that section of the roadway. It's a temporary arrangement," noted Ms. Ricketts.