Mark Titus, Freelance Writer
One of several concrete houses under construction at Kettering Hall in Trelawny. Residents at the settlement have 28 days to vacate the property or face eviction. - Photo by Mark Titus
WESTERN BUREAU:
A cloud of uncertainty now hangsover the squatters of Kettering Hall in Trelawny, as they face a 28-day ultimatum to vacate the controversial property or face eviction.
The eviction notice, which was published in Monday's publication of The Gleaner, advised the occupants that they are required to leave on or before July 31, 2007 or be evicted.
"We have nowhere to go," said Serette Taite, secretary of the Kettering Hall Community Development Association (KHCDA).
"Dr. (Patrick) Harris told us that we would be relocated to the Carey Park site, but since then he has not returned to say anything to us." Dr. Harris is Member of Parliament for the area.
Rightful owner
Most of the settlers say they have been living on the 820-acre property for more than 20 years, and are in contention with the proprietor, former Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament, Keith Russell, as to who is the rightful owner of the land.
An article published in The Daily Gleaner of October 18, 1988, reported that over 400 families from Spicy Hill, Refuge, Kraal, Cary Park, Samuel Prospect and Braco were to be settled on 100 acres of the Duncans Bay property in northern Trelawny.
This commitment was reportedly given to the people by Mr. Russell, MP at that time, at the request of then Minister of Construction, Bruce Golding.
The article further stated that Mr. Russell informed the citizens that Mr. Golding had accepted his proposal for the Duncans Bay project to form part of the constituency's 'Expand-A-Village Programme'.
A tearful Tina McNeil, said she has been living on the property for the past 20 years. She said seven years ago she began working in the overseas employment programme, through which she built a three-bedroom concrete house.
"We are prepared to stand up and fight as this is completely unfair," Miss McNeil said. "I spent over $2.5 million to build my house for my children to live in comfort. Is Russell going to give me back my money?"
Strong resistance
But the court issued eviction notices between 1994 and 1995 on behalf of Ocean Points Limited, of which Mr. Russell is managing director. This action was met with strong resistance from the dwellers who had refuse relocation sites by the land developer.
Following a demonstration in April, several meetings were held where it was reported that Dr. Harris - sitting MP for North Trelawny - offere lands, however these are yet to be identified.
Responding to criticisms that they were being tricked, Dr. Harris said: "I don't play politics with people's lives; the land has been identified somewhere in Duncans and I am now working with the Ministry of Housing to expedite this process."
