Squaters in Negril Removed...

[booger]

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?

You seem to have a strong opinion based off of second knowledge from your husband, who seems to have it all figured it.

[Eco]

So where did all the people go that lived in that eyesore next to the river in a nice touristy town? Are they camping out on the beach creating more eyesores? Oh and who got all that nice zinc roofing?

All kidding aside, I hope everyone has a roof over their head

[brihinds]

They went through this same area about ten years ago and cleaned it up for the safety of those long time residents of Negril who truly belong there. It was my understanding that they found all kinds of contraband there.

Further, I know for sure my family and many of my friends in Redgound are not squatters. Ask the owner of the Red Dragon. Lots of highly respected Negril people live in Redground.

[Westenders]

Booger I do have a strong opinion, my own though based on years of travel there and my own conversations with many people in addition to my husband, isn't that how we all learn about others experience of life?? I also work in the field of child poverty and child protection, so have my own professional opinion about why things there are like they are.
Of course my husband has an opinion, he is and will always be Jamaican and grew up in negril. So he kind of does have it figured out. What an inane point lol.
Not surprised at the personal jab, seems to be the culture of this board. So sorry I'm not a boardie clone, with different opinions. That being said I am not referring to all boardies, but it's laughable at the same few on here that will jump on the same train no matter what.
You have your own opinions, based on what? many holidays there, mixing with a small amount of Jamaicans , who will always see you as a foreigner., oh and the experiences of hanging out with boardies there!! Please don't belittle my opinions without some self reflection. Your post was pointless in the discussion of this issue. Sorry that my guru is my husband and not Rob (sarcasm intended)

Also probably unlike most of you, I don't return to a non Jamaican / possibly white world in the uk....

Rob as I stated I haven't lived there, that's what I said, but your opinions and experiences are yours based on your own experience living there. To invalidate my viewpoints also serves to invalidate the majority of your customers ' boardies' on here as neither have most of them. I acknowledge that you have a lot of knowledge and experience, but I think your viewpoint is very clearly against the squatting, mine is not. We will have to be grown up and agree to disagree about this issue. I respect your knowledge, but your not an expert on Jamaica and neither am I. I wouldn't even claim to be an expert on the uk, and I live here.

You have a great deal of influence in others on this board, but hope others reading can see there are many sides to a situation.
Great that you have people you talk to that have a shared view, but as I said there are many other Jamaicans that have different views, there and here.

6000 people is a lot of people, I have never seen you there at any time, so clearly the place is big enough to move in different circles. Neither do I frequent the places you promote on here and hang out at.

I will politely decline your suggestion to give the people I know a message about land, I think they know more about it than you or I.

I agree with your point about some people being able to succeed no matter what their personal hurdles, but without knowing the back story of these other individuals, you can't make sweeping generalisations. That's just how I feel about it, I'm not judging anyone.

That's the end of my back and forth on this... Its like throwing a stone in a pond and watching the ripple posting on this board. I could put money on the people who 'have a jab'
As obaygirl said, the board has many opinions and experiences, which make the discussion interesting and raises all our awareness. The personal comments made to people with an opinion you don't like is cowardly, it's easy to be a d*** online.

[Westenders]

Brihands. Re- read my post I never said everyone in red ground are squatters., or that many people there are not regular people, paying their own way.
You are right many people there are land owners, but plenty captured the land back in the day.FACT.
It's so established that many don't realise that this was the history. Ask the owner of Red Dragon about that..

[Accompong]

Brihands. Re- read my post I never said everyone in red ground are squatters., or that many people there are not regular people, paying their own way.
You are right many people there are land owners, but plenty captured the land back in the day.FACT.
It's so established that many don't realise that this was the history. Ask the owner of Red Dragon about that..

FACTS??? They don't need no stinking facts! It's emotion that rules. Just say the word "squatter" and the wallets will open and the tears will flow. How would they like it if someone just moved on to their property and built a house.... fancy or otherwise?

[Flipadelphia26]

Westenders. It seems to me, that you are very familiar with this board, its culture and its owner...... for only being registered since April 2014 and only having 38 posts. Would it be fair to assume that you were once posting under a different name?




On a side note. I do wonder why people who come on this board dedicated to tourism in Jamaica, and Negril in particular... and seem to want to puff out their chests because they consider themselves locals and not tourists. Or they say they "Live in Jamaica".. Why come to a tourist board if you are not a tourist, and seldom visit negril? Just to brag about the fact that you aren't a tourist?

I used to live in Florida full-time. We called the 3-6 monthers... Snow birds.

My family owns a house at the shore. The locals call the summer and weekend visitors (Us) Shoobies.


That's really what some of you are. Shoobies and Snowbirds. (Cough) tourists.

Which there is absolutely nothing wrong with. Just dont get it twisted. It's not a contest.

[Papa Georgie]

Flip,

Do you know the origin of the term "Shoobies"?

Papa.

[Flipadelphia26]

I heard that it was in reference to people heading to the beach on the train 100 years ago.. They used to put their lunches in Shoe boxes. The term originated from that. It would frustrate the business owners who sold food.

Now it is just a general term for non-locals.

[Lola]

OK just to get this out of the way, some of us including me, thought Westender is someone who used to post under a certain name; I now do not think she is that certain person. (Hi Westender!)

There are WAY MORE LURKERS READING this board than people who post. When someone decides they want to register and post, how about getting to know them for who they are and not run them off because they have strong opinions, REGARDLESS of what those opinions are? There are boardies I didn't care to meet when they first appeared, that over time I became more interested in meeting them. Now that I think Westender is a different person, I will start fresh with my perception of her - well, I have to actually, given that her strong opinions about smoking, do not mirror her opinion about squatting. I find people interesting...

To the topic;

The sense I see in the 3/30am time for razing the structures is that folks would have already gotten some sleep, soon to be waking anyway and daylight coming on rather than nightfall.

The people of Jamaica have let their issues go on so long, even though many things worked against the people, they got used to it, sometimes they got a little benefit from it, they developed the mentality that they were entitled to those little 'benefits', and on it continued. The JPS/electrical supply system is a simple, clear example that can be applied to multiple challenges around the island. People who do not have properly metered account service have more gadgets and don't conserve energy. They use 2-3 times more current than people who are properly and SAFELY connected, who know they have to live within their means. The un-regularized users put extra strain on the system and even more important cut into the financial capital JPS should be accumulating to maintain and upgrade the aging system. You do not have to be an engineer to see the consequences if this continues.