Devon House.
GOVERNMENT HAS approved the compulsory acquisition of the Devon House property by the Commissioner of Lands. In making the announcement yesterday at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Information Minister Burchell Whiteman said this route was taken because Government "cannot legally enter into a lease or any other arrangement for development without possession of title."
In 1967, management of the 11 1/2 acre property was given to Craft Things Jamaica Limited, an industrial provident society which holds the title to Devon House. But, because the title was never transferred after Craft Things Jamaica Limited's overseer's tenure ended in 1980, that company retains ownership. Minister Whiteman said Government has been unable to locate any of its directors.
UPGRADES
Once the purchase is complete, renovation on sections of the property including garden gazebos, roadways and parking lots, will be upgraded. Minister Whiteman said this will cost $14 million.
In the meantime, Whiteman announced that the Ministry of Water and Housing had purchased lands at Galleon Beach in St. Elizabeth to be sold to residents in the area.
He said the 83.44 acres of land were bought from the Federal Realty and Trust Company Limited, owners of 121.83 acres of land in the Galleon Beach region. Mr. Whiteman said sections of the property are currently occupied by informal settlers whom the owners have threatened to evict.
Under the new arrangement, over 200 families will be able to purchase land.
