By Denise Clarke, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE GOVERNMENT must move swiftly to prevent the expansion of informal residential or squatter settlements, and abandon the costly exercise of relocating these communities, said Winston Dear, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"We have to put a stop to the expansion of informal squatter settlements," Mr. Dear urged. "It is a dangerous practice to continue to allow unplanned housing development and at the same time Government must provide adequate housing for the people in areas that are environmentally friendly for development."
Mr. Dear, who was speaking Friday night at an awards dinner hosted by the Westmoreland chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica in Negril, said the Government cannot afford to relocate entire communities as they have done with Railway Gardens in Montego Bay, but insisted that infrastructure in inner-city communities be developed, while inhibiting the expansion of these areas. He also charged the Govern-ment to focus on providing serviced lots and move away from the construction of houses, in its bid to address the country's demand for housing.
"We should be providing sites and services housing lots rather than building all of these houses because the people will build what they want," Mr. Dear said.
He suggested that proper roadways be constructed in all inner-city communities to provide free access to emergency vehicles and other social services. This, he said, is a small price for the Government to pay for the high crime rate that exists in some of these communities.
The Chamber president also urged residents in these communities to hone their entrepreneurial skills and engage in business activities that will provide them with much needed financial support.
"The residents in squatter or informal communities have to start small businesses and it has to be outside trading. People must grow trees and flowers for the landscaping of all the new hotels and residential projects that are now being built," Mr. Dear said.
He advised inner-city residents to take advantages of small business loans offered by financial institutions, along with educational opportunities that will enhance their marketability.
