Squaters in Negril Removed...

[Rob]

Murph,

That is exactly why I prefaced my comment with "If you read the comments under the article, you will see that the majority sentiment by Jamaicans are against the "free" mentality of the squatters."

But I can also safely say that the majority of Jamaicans I have met over the past 21 years living here are hardworking and value what they have earned. Although they do understand the economic realities, they do not admire squatters. They do not actively hate, dislike or harass them. But they also understand that after being given years of notification, a squatter who has used money to build a house and buy possessions on another person's property, who has not had to pay rent or utilities for years should have taken the time to realize their situation would not last forever and made some form of arrangements.

After all, they did have the money to build the home in the first place, but they illegally built it on someone else's land. Landowner's do have rights to their own land.

As far as Papa's "there but for the grace of God" comment, the person interviewed in the article was living for free for 11 years in a home he built on someone else's land, paying no rent, land taxes or utilities. That sounds like a rather long "grace" period.

And Westender - Red Ground is not capture land, we know hundreds of land owners with titles in Red Ground and speak with them on a regular basis. Red Ground has been the legal home to many of Negril's founding families.

And there are strides being made in the Jamaican welfare system. According to the Nov. 2013 press release, 400,000 Jamaicans Have Benefited From PATH program (Programme of Advancement through Health and Education).

http://jis.gov.jm/400000-jamaicans-benefitted-path/

And as recently as this past May, the JIS press release states that 2,000 Persons to Benefit From $600 Million Welfare-To-Work Programme.

http://jis.gov.jm/2000-persons-benef...ork-programme/

And government built affordable housing was highlighted in a press release from January this year to help people own their own home who earn between j$5000 to $7000 per week. More Jamaicans Provided With Affordable Housing:

http://jis.gov.jm/jamaicans-provided...dable-housing/

In Negril, the Whitehall affordable housing phase 3 program was highlighted in an Observer article in July of last year with 590 houses and serviced lots being built. These are designed for mainly for hotel workers, young professionals and first time home owners.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...egril_14719965

While this is not a cure-all any more than the US or UK welfare systems are a cure-all, it is a leg up to help those who want to help themselves.

No one I have met here in the last two decades has much respect for those who have the ability but do not choose to help themselves. Squatting is not the cure...

[VVHT]

Rob your quote:
"While this is not a cure-all any more than the US or UK welfare systems are a cure-all, it is a leg up to help those who want to help themselves."

Apparently the Canadians have it all figured out???

[obaygirl13]

One of the reasons (many) I love this forum. Many different perspectives, heartfelt and/or educated opinions. Without facts and perspectives, we ebb. Everyone's contribution speaks loudly. I am admittedly on the fence with this one. I can see everyone's view and yet cannot form my own solid opinion, because honestly- I lack the knowledge and experience. My love for Jamaica is all I can offer up- I hate to see people suffer, I also hate when people fail to make their own way and instead lay stagnant in their own circumstances. A daughter of a migrant worker who toiled and busted his rear end to go to college and see his kids do the same, a wife of a Jamaican who has seen his fair share of poverty and hungry nights- but still holds the perseverance to strive to be more, do more and work for it, and mother who sees pure laziness and entitlement in this new generation of youth - I am truly lost on this subject.

[Westenders]

Rob, you are only partially right. Yes there are many people who own land in red ground, but there is a large qty that is still capture land, as is up in the West end too. We know many who have acquired land there , built amazing houses, but don't have no title.
And right across Jamaica it happens everywhere, It's common practice there.

I don't want to compete with your 21 years living in negril, as I have never lived in negril, however I spend a lot of time there, and my husband grew up and lived there for a lot longer as one of those founding families. The majority of who are still there. We have very close ties to negril, but realise our social circles will be very different, so have different viewpoints to the ones you share.

The programmes you quoted are a start, but are very flawed. The most in need cannot access these. In fact some are another example of corruption. I know of Jamaicans living in the uk, who have bought into those housing programmes, and rent them out from here.

I don't believe everything I read in the press over here, so would not trust those reports on the govt programmes to be inclusive to those that really need the help.

I don't know what you mean in terms of how these squatters have the ability to help themselves..that's a broad sweep..in what way? Without education, stable housing or stable employment, how do they have the ability..
In terms of those in the article being able to afford to build their own houses, I think a piece of zinc roof and some boards of wood is hardly building a house. My garden tools are housed better than that. They often build with 'recycled' material as well.

I don't agree with the view that Jamaicans don't have respect for these people either. They don't look at the issues the same as us not born there. We all like to think we get it, but we don't really. Jamaicans in my view just try to get on best they can, and understand that others have to do what they can. The richer communities think differently of course, but they are not the majority.

When I showed my husband the article, his negativity was toward the government not the people who got evicted.

And to plough in at 3.30 am with children there, well that's just disgusting. Where was the child protection and safeguarding in that plan?

[ESparks451]

Sad sad sad.

[Papa Georgie]

"Grace of God" and 11 year grace period ?

Interesting stretch at equivalence.

[ESparks451]

11 years. Seems like abandoned piece of property. Let's wait over a decade, then we will bulldoze your house and livelihood at 3:30am.

Maybe there will be a new bar with 6 dollar dirty banana's soon.

I assume that some Canadian, or American must have development plans.

[Hussyband]

This happens fairly frequently, doesn't it? I know I have seen a similar story to this quite a few times over the years. It seems that just a couple years ago it happened down on the river near the craft market.

[Rob]

11 years. Seems like abandoned piece of property. Let's wait over a decade, then we will bulldoze your house and livelihood at 3:30am.

Maybe there will be a new bar with 6 dollar dirty banana's soon.

I assume that some Canadian, or American must have development plans.

ESparks,

The "eviction" notices to evacuate these particular "capture land" areas in and around Negril have been reported in the local news media for about 3 years now. There were even follow up stories that second and third notices had been sent out. Everyone paying attention knew this was coming. That would make the 11 years more like 8, plus 3 years of notice to get off the land.

The 3:30am thing is weird, except that his was done at a time when there would be the least public visibility for both the evictors and the evictees. In this day with camera phones in every pocket, maybe this was the most tactful way to accomplish the eviction. Also, we dont know what time the eviction started, maybe there was some form of dialogue/negotiation phase that none of us are privy.

[Rob]

Westender,

Since you know Negril and Jamaica so well, although never having lived here, wihile there is much difference in "amazing houses" and "board houses", there isnt under the law for squatters.

As was noted in a Gleaner article in February, the Courts blasted the Ministry of Housing for backing squatters - setting both the courts and government ministries at odds with the land owner rights coming out on top.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ad/lead82.html

But as the article does state, the concrete structures in this thriving community were attempted to be made legal and given title. They refused for whatever reason and paid the price. You may want to inform your friends in Red Ground in those amazing houses that they are not immune. Or perhaps they have actually already made arrangements to become legal as that was a major undertaking by the government for the past few years. They want to get all home owners on the books so that they can pay property taxes. That is part of the new IMF agreement.

As far as "social circle" - there are only about 6000 residents total in Negril, so I am positive that we know many of the same people. And none of them are surprised, shocked or outraged that squatters who have had years of warnings to vacate the land that they do not own have been evicted. We all knew it was coming. Does your husband know that the squatters received about 3 years of notice before being evicted? If he did, how in the world does allowing squatting solve anything? Doesnt it just create new problems?

Other than those with handicaps, either physical or mental, everyone has that ability to help themselves. I know successful business owners who can barely read, they never had formal schooling, but they succeeded nevertheless. I am sure your husband knows some as well.

I live, visit, talk and interact with Jamaicans every single day, and even the one I am talking with right at this moment, who is one of the local drivers has no real respect for squatters. Of course he feels bad that the man was evicted, but the man had been given years of notice and they do not own the land, so he has no sympathy for him. My friend just told me that he respects a man who acts like a man. And that includes making your way in life instead of trying to take someone else's land.

I just dont see how you can suggest that illegal squatting is a practical solution to anything....