PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
EVICTION NOTICES have been served to a number of squatters occupying land along the West Harbour, by the Portland Parish Council, in Port Antonio.
The notices were handed out last week by Councillors and Parish Council officers. They came in the wake of the redevelopment project slated for the resort town which includes the construction of a mega yacht marina and a complete renovation of the Ken Wright Pier and its terminal building.
When the Council met at its monthly meeting last Thursday, plans were being discussed regarding the relocation of the squatters.
Mayor Philip Thomas said those who received eviction notices were co-operating with the regulations handed out to them. He said that usually persons are given 30 days for eviction, but in this case some leniency had to be exercised. He added that lands were presently being identified to relocate them.
The Mayor said officials from the Port Authority of Jamaica would have full monopoly regarding the re-development project at the Port Antonio West Harbour slated to start round about the last week of this month.
The project is expected to be completed by next June to allow Jamaica's participation in the international Tall Ship Competi-tion, called the Americas Sail.
In February, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced that the project would involve the upgrading of the Ken Jones domestic airport with lighting fixtures, and also a facility to accommodate yachts worldwide and to provide maintenance and repairs to small boats.
