LUCEA, Hanover:

Civic leaders in Hanover are urging the National Housing Trust (NHT) to fast-track the proposed 2000-unit housing scheme to be built at Point Estate in Lucea.

According to Theo Chambers, chairman of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, in light of the new Fiesta hotel and other tourism developments currently under way in the parish, squatting could become a problem if no efforts are made to provide adequate housing before those developments are completed, due to the expected influx of workers in the parish.

"We need to show NHT the urgency, because if we are not proactive now, we are going to be left behind. With a hotel of more than 1,000 rooms, many of the workers will undoubtedly be coming from other parts of Jamaica. Where are they going to live? We need to have those houses before the hotel opens," Mr. Chambers said.

No problem with squatting

But Chairman of the Hanover Parish Development Committee Nerris Hawthorne says she does not forsee a problem with squatting in the parish if the Hanover Parish Council's building officers are vigilant.

"I would say as soon as anyone starts squatting, get on top of them immediately and remove them and make it public. Take them to court and make an example of them. The council should have someone looking out for such an occurrence," Ms. Hawthorne said.

The leaders made their comments during a stakeholders meeting of JAMPRO's National Cricket Legacy programme in the parish on Friday, where Project Manager Robert Stephens called on Hanoverians to "immediately get some kind of discussion going with the NHT to establish major housing developments in the parish" to prevent squatting and crime.