THE EDITOR, Sir:
RECENTLY TO get some squatters off a government property on the Constant Spring Road, the government offered each household $30,000 and the promise to sell land or house to them at another location at a future date.
This is wrong, absolutely wrong! Obviously, the architect of this plan had not given serious thought of what ramification it implies 'down the road' or he was pandering to voters!
Now that the precedent is set, we can expect to see squatters demanding compensation to move off lands they illegally occupy. This bears serious implications for the private sector. The government is making them captive to the ever increasing squatter communities.
The government, in an attempt to garner votes, is using taxpayers money to compensate and legitimate individuals who are downright dishonest and break the laws of our land. This something for nothing, the so-called sufferers mentality, must not be encouraged at any cost. For a government that is cash-strapped, dispensing public funds in this manner is ludicrous.
Government must set the proper example and the act of compensating squatters is a move in the wrong direction.
We must teach our people values and attitudes and this type of action by the government goes against all values and attitudes.
I am, etc.,
GARTH MARTIN
P.O. Box 33
