Cecelia Bell, Contributor
GREATER PORTMORE, St. Catherine is seen as a major accomplishment in providing well-needed housing solutions for Jamaicans. The housing development, dubbed the largest of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, has allowed many poor Jamaicans, who would not normally be able to afford to buy a home, the opportunity to become homeowners.
Still in the development mode, the mixed (low and middle) income dormitory community is struggling to find its way, amidst a wide spectrum of the issues confronting the area. One school of thought is that the community has the makings of a major slum, which would only add to the socio-economic problems of the country.
Recently, we talked to some residents about this view, and while some are quick to dispel the notion, others agree, citing mass migration from urban ghettos, uncaring tenants, lack of civic pride and high unemployment as the factors that will ultimately transform Greater Portmore into a slum. Evidence also points to a high level of commercial activity in the residential community, with garages, shops and bars being operated from within private homes, even studio flats.
"I am not accepting this view. Greater Portmore can only become a slum if the people of Portmore want it to happen and if agencies like the National Housing Trust (NHT) neglect our scheme," says one member of the Daytona community, which mostly comprises studio units.
In addition to studios (quads), Greater Portmore also comprises two and three bedroom units. In total, there should be about 16,000 units. A large number of the occupants of these units are tenants, paying rents from $5,000 to $25,000 per month. It is estimated that one in every five household is a tenant. One claim, which has not been substantiated, is that individuals buy more than one unit and rent them out.
"I think that Greater Portmore has the potential to become a slum just like anywhere else. But, we must first look at what is a slum. The thing is there are a lot of good houses in Greater Portmore and many poor people who cannot afford to maintain these houses, so without maintenance you will find that these will become rundown," says Kennedy Reid, former chairman of the Greater Portmore Joint Citizens Council.
"However, this is no reason for Greater Portmore to become a 'ghetto'. The residents have organised themselves into strong citizens groups and are working to ensure that Greater Portmore remains a good community," Mr. Reid says, while admitting that there were many socio-economic problems to be addressed.
"I think it has the potential to become a slum," submits self-employed mother, Prudence Brown, "I bought my unit in 1995 and the only problem then was merely clothes being stolen off people's lines and people have been taking precautions since then. But, these days, there are shoot-outs with the police. There have been several of these incidents, even with children outside and so I wouldn't be surprised if this community becomes another slum," she said. Miss Brown suggests that part of the problem is tenants moving in and out. In one case, she says, a homeowner, seemingly unable to rent his house for $30,000 to one family, opted to rent out the rooms in the four-bedroom house individually.
"So many different people move in and out, it is hard to keep track of who is moving in or out and this increases the risk," Ms Brown adds.
A similar problem also exists with the studios, as it seems, the owners have rented them to tenants who really don't care," she remarks.
"I don't believe it is fair to blame tenants. We have slums among paradise in almost every situation... I agree there is the potential to become a slum and I think it is the migration of persons from other areas, who come here with their 'ghetto mentality'," says Ryan Anslip, a young professional who lives in the area. Mr. Anslip, a tenant, also feels the design of the whole Greater Portmore 'quad' concept was bad idea to begin with and sees this as an insult to aspiring homeowners. Where there are studio units, four are joined together.
"I think it is the worst thing that could ever happen. How can people comfortably exist in these these huts?" he asked rhetorically, while mentioning the nuisance of people having to park their vehicles great distances from their homes, because only walkways were created for them to actually get into their homes.
Dismissing the 'ghetto mentality' theory, Councillor Leon Thomas argues that Greater Portmore comprised people from varying backgrounds and it would be unreasonable to blame any one segment for the deterioration of the community. "The entire community should be blamed for lack of civic pride," he says, adding that the general feeling is the community wants better and is willing to work together to achieve that objective. Mr. Thomas said there was effort under way to develop the social infrastructure in the community to benefit all citizens including the youth.
Superintendent in Charge of the South St. Catherine Police Division, Glenford Hudson, says the phenomenon of migration of criminal elements is not unique to Portmore. Admitting that wherever there is a major development, there is normally some secondary element of developments, he said there are little underdeveloped pockets in Greater Portmore.
Pointing out that there is a reduction of crime in the South St. Catherine Division, which includes Portmore, he said the police had to become more vigilant to prevent the migration of criminals and work with the area through community policing to prevent and development criminal activities.
