SHIELDS

Flankers, a dense settlement with a combination of formal and informal squatter-type settlements has long had a reputation as a criminal enclave. It is situated in the middle of the main tourist resort on an incline overlooking the Sangster International Airport. This sizeable settlement of substantial housing units is interspersed with shacks and hastily constructed temporary housing units. Flankers has been featured frequently in the news over clashes with the police relating to land ownership rights.

Old Norwood, contiguous to Flankers, developed through the capture of land owned by private interests. Most of this land was sold to the Ministry of Construction for housing development. For a number of years, government made attempts to guide the development of the area. Over 3,000 lots in a new area called New Norwood were developed, and 300 finished dwellings were constructed. The project was not completed, and people moved into the area, capturing sections of the property. Subsequently, a large number of "undocumented aliens" have invaded the area.

Rosemount, a dense linear settlement developed on lands which were originally in private ownership. After squatting began, it was transferred to the Ministry of Construction which provided finished units and upgrading on 26 acres. However, squatters now occupy all of the undeveloped lots. Social services and infrastructure in Rosemount are poor.

Pitfour/Granville is one of the area's fastest growing communities in north-west St James. This original farming settlement is located outside of the development corridor of the city. Three formal sector sub-divisions were completed in 1969, 1975 and 1984. The Ministry of Construction has built more than 300 homes, however squatter-capturing has taken place on the remaining land that has not been subdivided.

Salt Spring is old, dating from the 19th century. It developed as an informal settlement 40 years ago and accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s as legitimate landowners either migrated, abandoned or sold their properties. Squatters have occupied much of the hilly terrain of this area. Unemployment levels are high as the land has very little agricultural value. Small landowners have accommodated waves of newcomers by creating house spots (illegally subdividing parcels into micro-parcels). Today, Salt Spring is one of the largest marginalised communities in Montego-Bay, lacking many social services.

- L.B.

Additional information supplied by COMAND, a local NGO