This woman walks amid the rubble of what was left of some of the homes of 100 squatters whose Honey Hill homes in Constant Spring were demolished yesterday. Each squatter family was offered $30,000 to help with their relocation. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

MORE than 100 squatters, who had ignored eviction notices which expired last Wednesday, were yesterday bulldozed from the Honey Hill property in Constant Spring, St Andrew.

The squatters watched as eviction crews from the housing ministry tore down houses and shacks on the property. The eviction crews were accompanied by a heavily armed detachment of policemen from the Constant Spring Police Station and Mobile Reserve, under the command of Deputy Superintendent Sydney Crossdale, who ensured to the orderly removal of the squatters.

They had demonstrated last week and said they would not relocate until they met with the prime minister, P J Patterson, although they were offered financial assistance to help them relocate to a piece of government property in Bernard Lodge, St Catherine.

Yesterday, Minister of State for Water and Housing Harry Douglas told the Observer that the Honey Hill property belonged to developer Y P Seaton. He explained that the property, valued at $27 million, was being used as part payment of a $100-million lawsuit which Seaton had brought against the government during the 1980s and won.

Douglas said that in January government promised that the land would be cleared and handed over to Seaton. Squatters on the property, he said, were subsequently advised that they would be relocated to Quarry Hill, near Bernard Lodge, St Catherine. Each squatter family, he told the Observer, was offered $30,000 to help with their relocation. Basic infrastructure such roads, water and electricity were put in place to accommodate them at Quarry Hill, he said.

But yesterday the squatters said they were not comfortable with the removal plans as they were yet to receive the $30,000 promised by government.

Annie Jones, a mother of three, who has been squatting on the property for 12 years, was among those evicted.

"About 50 people don't get them money yet, which is inadequate to move we go clear a Quarry Hill. I don't see anything wrong with Quarry Hill where they going to put us. But. $30,000 can't resettle us because a pure open land them carry we go put on out there."

Douglas, however, dismissed the squatter's claim as foolishness. "We have the records here to show that 140 persons received and signed for their $30,000. That is the list we got from the SDC (Social Development Commission) and we have honoured it. However, if there are any genuine cases out there and they come to us we will look into it to help them."

Another resident who asked for anonymity complained that those squatters who have already relocated to Quarry Hill have complained that the place was "not habitable".

. "There is no shelter provided for us at Quarry Hill. Women and pickney live out in the cold," he said, complaining, too, that it was difficult to get children registered in schools at this time of the year.

Douglas, however, insisted that adequate infrastructure was prepared to accommodate the settlers. "We did not promise them house; we said we would help them to relocate but some of them have put up their houses already, so we have given them everything out there. They have roads, street lights and water. The only thing we are waiting on now is a competitive bid for the contract to wet, marl and roll the road."

Another resident said the Honey Hill squatters wanted government to subdivide the property and sell it to them as they have lived there for over 20 years and were willing and able to purchase the lots.

Attorney Bert Samuels, who represents the squatters, took the matter to the Supreme Court last month to force government to summons the squatters instead of serving eviction notices, but the judge refused his application.

Samuels told the Observer that under Section 89 of the (Judicature Resident Magistrate) Act where land is occupied by squatters, the land owner (government) has the right to take out summons to remove the squatters.

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