By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
RELOCATION 2000 co-ordinator, O.D. Ramtallie, is unable to say why beneficiaries of the Providence Heights Housing Development in St. James are still living at Railway Lane, Montego Bay, which was the scene of a major fire that left 47 persons homeless.
"I can't say why they are still there," Mr. Ramtallie said. We did a survey in 1999 of a prescribed area in Railway Gardens and 320 families were identified for removal."
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson officially handed over the $165 million development to residents last May. However, many of the fire victims were benefactors of the houses, which were built under a government's project designed to relocate them to better living conditions.
Reports are that about 7:40 p.m., a house was seen in flames, which quickly spread to nearby premises leaving millions
in damage.
The unavailability of the two working fire trucks, which were responding to another call, further compounded the situation.
One of the fire victims and Relocation 2000 beneficiary, Jacqueline Wilson estimated that she had lost approximately $3.5 million, including property and belongings.
"I was not able to save anything because what they throw out of the fire, dem loot it," the 33 year-old woman stated. "Mi have a key for Providence, but me don't have nothing to put in there...everything gone."
Mr. Ramtallie added that the Ministry of Water and Housing is in the process of acquiring holdings of the vacated premises that are to be converted into a major shopping district.
"Some of the owners have agreed to sell and cost price is being negotiated," explained the Relocation 2000 co-ordinator, who is a former housing minister. "For others, tenure is unsure and the Water and Housing Ministry is moving to regulate this. Where there is no legitimacy, it will be a compulsory take-over, a decision that was agreed on by Cabinet."
The community of Railway Gardens consists of Railway Lane, Barnett Lane, River Bay Road, Lightbody Avenue, Fish Lane, Dean's Lane, Barnett Lane, Catherine Lane and Coombs Lane.
The Providence Heights scheme comprises 260 studios and 60 one-bedroom units costing between $850,000 and $1.2 million each. The beneficiaries are required to be current National Housing Trust (NHT) contributors, but special lease arrangements have been made for those who are not contributing, until they can regularise their NHT status.
