Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
RESIDENTS OF the gated upscale residential community of Lydford Park near Golden Grove in St. Ann will have to find another place of residence at the end of March next year.
The Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM) which owns the estate has served notices on the tenants of the 20 houses on the property informing them that their rent contracts which expire on March 31, 2006 will not be renewed.
The JBM has informed the tenants that it will be closing down its electricity power plants which supplies power to the houses because the plant has become outdated and is operating at a loss.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
According to JBM manager, Canute Gordon, the closure of the plant will also affect the water supply to the houses which will make them inhabitable.
He said that because the houses were wired on the JBM 60 cycle plant, it will take some time for the Jamaica Public Service Company to put in place their own electricity supply, and for the houses to be rewired to accommodate the JPS supply.
But some of the residents who have become upset over the matter feels that there are other motives behind their displacements. Some of the residents claim that the housing estate is being closed down to make way for Chinese nationals who they say are planning to resume bauxite mining operation in the area.
ARISTIDE
This was, however, denied by Mr. Gordon who insisted that the closure of the 50-odd-year-old power plant was the sole reason for issuing the notices, and that he has no information about any deals with Chinese nationals.
Lydford Park became the centre of both national and international attention a few years ago when deposed Haitian President, Jean-Bernard Aristide became one of its residents.
Aristide and his family stayed at the Lyford Park Great House under tight security.
During their stay, his two young daughters had the privilege of attending the Lydford Preparatory School in the community where they were described by both teachers and students as 'very nice students'.
The houses on the estate were built in the 1960s to accommodate executives of Reynolds Jamaica Mines which operated the nearby bauxite mining plant.
When Reynolds closed in the late 1980s, the houses were rented to a number of private individuals, including top executives of hotels and other businesses, while the Great House was reserved as a protocol house.
In addition to the displacement of the residents, the situation is also expected to have serious effect on the Lydford Preparatory School.
Apart from the likelihood of losing some of the 157 students whose parents will have to be relocated outside the area, there is the possibility that parents will have to pay increased school fees.
Explaining the situation, principal Angela McPherson said the school had been maintained free of cost by the JBM which also supplied the electricity at a subsidised rate.
COST OF REWIRING
She said the cost of rewiring the entire school building and paying the JPS for electricity will have to be factored into the school fees so there will definitely be an increase in fees.
Mrs. McPherson said parents have already been informed of the pending situation, while the school is in the process of seeking alternative arrangements.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gordon was unable to say how soon the JPS will be able to install their power lines and how soon the rewiring of the houses will be completed.
