Reactionary move not long-lasting
published: Wednesday | July 20, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE GOVERNMENT'S recent initiative to forcibly remove persons from flood-prone areas is the sort of reactionary approach which will not have a lasting effect. The same persons will simply move back into these areas or a different set of persons will settle in the vacated spots. Poverty fuels negative activities such as squatting and unless affordable housing solutions are found to address this ubiquitous problem, it will continue until time immemorial.

Poverty has led to several squatter settlements emerging all over Kingston and St. Andrew. Government, instead of taking the reactionary approach in removing squatter settlers, must offer these persons a reasonable alternative in order to cushion the effects of a forcible removal.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK A. GALLIMORE

pagalley@hotmail.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica