By Garwin Davis,
Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU;
PROPERTY RANGERS directed by the Urban Development Corporation, yesterday demolished the houses of more than 70 squatters in Barrett Hall, St. James.
The team, accompanied by policemen, used bulldozers to carry out the demolition. The squatters cried for leniency but were ignored as the rangers moved in quickly.
"We had a meeting with the Prime Minister several months ago and he promised that none of the houses or structures will be touched", said Juliette Fowler, a squatter who lost her house. "This is disgraceful and an attack on poor people".
Richard Brown, another squatter, said that he went ahead and completed his house because he was given an assurance by the authorities that there would be no forced removal of the settlers. "Nobody expected this," he shouted. "I spent over $200,000 to build this house, my entire life savings. What them really expect me to do now? This is cruelty and we are not going to let it go so".
The UDC said that the Prime Minister had warned the squatters not to erect any new structure on the Barrett Hall land before going through the proper procedures and that they had ignored the warning. The agency added that it was committed in its efforts to remove illegal occupants from its property and noted that settlers continue to take up residence and established structures, sometimes overnight.
But Edmund Bartlett, the Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for the area, said he was disturbed by the allegations of wrongdoing by government representatives and he called for a full investigation of the matter. "These are some very serious allegations and I am calling for a halt to the demolitions until this thing is properly investigated," he said. "If the people are telling the truth about paying money to government people for the land then they have every right to be there."
The UDC last year had issued warning letters to scores of squatters to leave the 474-acre Barrett Hall property, which it said was slated for development. Also, it said, it had been issuing notices to the settlers for the last six years but these were ignored and its patience had been exhausted.
