hugh stone - Squatters living in the Rodneys Arm area, near Forum beach Portmore.AT LEAST ONE set of squatters in Portmore will be required to find a new home soon as they have been given notice to vacate the lands they are occupying.
The Rodneys Arm squatters near the Forum beach were given notice to vacate by September 12 by the Ministry of Land and Environment last month. But, up to yesterday, they were still on the land which they have called home for several years.
ADMITTED
The squatters admitted that they have recieved notices to vacate the area, but told THE PORTMORE STAR that they cannot as they have not found anywhere to go. They say they are searching and as soon as somewhere suitable is found then they will move.
They are pleading with the relevant authorities to give them some more time and to regard their occupation as desperation not disrespect.
But aside from the Forum squatters, at least one other area has a problem with squatting. For a long time, Garveymeade has complained about Cassia Heights, a small informal community, located across from that scheme.
The community sprung up a few years ago when some residents moved into the area on lands belonging to Cable & Wireless and Government. They said the area got the name Cassia Heights because of the number of Cassia trees growing there.
The residents of the community have been served notices on two occasions, but are yet to move because the notices are always withdrawn.
NEW POLICY
Portmore's Mayor George Lee said they were still anxious to remove other squatters in the Municipality but was awaiting the Ministry's new policy on squatting.
"There's a new squatter policy being developed and it is scheduled to come out shortly so we are waiting to see that before we move," said Mayor Lee.
Mayor Lee admitted that the Cassia Heights community has been a problem for the Municipality for sometime as residents of the neighbouring Garveymeade have complained about the community.
Apart from that, there have been reports of shootings in the area and the residents of Garveymeade have maintained that the informal community is a breeding ground for criminals. But Mayor Lee said the problem would be dealt with in due time.
"As soon as we see the squatter policy we will know what to do. But until then we have to wait and see," he said.
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