Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
AFTER YEARS of being tainted by claims of irregularities, abuse of power and political nepotism, the occupation of the Bogue Lands in Montego Bay, are to be regularised as the St. James Parish Council has started implementing the recommendations of a Commission, which has been approved by Government.
"We have started implementing the recommendations," said Ian Reid, Secretary Manager of the St. James Parish Council. "It is still early days but this could have a significant financial implication on those persons now occupying the lands."
According to Mr. Reid, the council's three-part implementation programme, which is aimed at ensuring that the council derives maximum benefit for what is considered prime asset, entails securing the requisite titles for the lands, putting in infrastructure such as roads, light and water and advertising the land for sale.
"The persons now on the land will get first choice but we want to make it clear that the land will be sold for the best price we can get," said Mr. Reid. "Those persons who have already erected structures will also be required to submit building plans and meet all the building regulations."
Councillor Charles Sinclair, of the Flankers Division, was instrumental in getting the new JLP-led administration, which came into office following the 2003 Local Government Elections, to probe the land issue after reports surfaced that members of the previous council had distributed the lands, without the requisite approval, to PNP activists, friends and family members.
PROCESS QUITE LONG AND TEDIOUS
"The process of getting to where we are now has been quite long and tedious but we are now satisfied that justice is about to be done," said Councillor Sinclair. "I know some of the persons now on the lands will not be able to buy it but I can't say I am sorry for them because as a council, we have a right to protect the council's property."
In the months following the change of administration at the St. James Parish Council, there were regular verbal classes between PNP and JLP councillors as accusation of irregularities, abuse of power and political nepotism swirled from the JLP side in regards to the distribution of the Bogue Lands. It was alleged that distribution was done without the requisite approval of the Ministry of Local Government.
Councillor Sinclair, who was authorised by Mayor Noel Donaldson to investigate the allegations, produced a scathing 12-page report, in which he said he produced evidence pointing to gross irregularities, including major abuse of power on the part of members of the previous administration as well as one glaring case of political nepotism involving a former PNP councillor who had established a business on a section of the land.
COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY
With the JLP councillors calling for a commission of enquiry into what had then become the 'Bogue Land Saga', Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who was then the Minister of Local Government, intervened and appointed Dennis Morrison Q.C. to head a team to investigate the findings in Councillor Sinclair's report.
Following the release of Mr. Morrison's findings, the Parish Council met in caucus and made a submission to Mrs. Simpson Miller, outlining how they would like to see the matter resolved. Mrs. Simpson Miller subsequently appointed a committee headed by Mr. Smith to examine the council's submission and make appropriate recommendations to bring closure to the matter.
