Squatting on e-coli

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine -- The St Catherine Health Department has issued a warning that the health of scores of squatters in Central St Catherine is in jeopardy, because of harmful bacteria found in the canals they use.

The squatters, who occupy lands along the canal banks of the Spanish Town bypass, are at great risk for e-coli infection, the department said.

In a letter to the St Catherine Parish Council, read at the council's February monthly general council meeting and raised again at last Thursday's sitting, the department noted that a recent study found that these canals have the highest e-coli content in Jamaica. E-coli can, among other things, cause serious food poisoning in humans.

The St Catherine Parish Council has been cautioned to take immediate steps to move the residents from the canal banks.

The council was also advised to secure the assistance of the National Irrigation Commission for help in preventing raw sewerage from entering the canal.

The canal banks, which are densely populated with squatters, span a three-mile corridor between Brunswick Avenue and Job's Lane along the Spanish Town bypass. The area is a cluster of restaurants, cook shops, groceries and makeshift car wash depots. There are 33 homes, 14 with no functioning toilet facilities; six car-washing facilities; four hairdressing salons and 13 food establishments with no toilet facilities.

Children can also be found swimming in the canals daily and adults use the water for drinking and other domestic purposes.

St Catherine Parish Council secretary/manager Christopher Powell told the Observer that a programme has been strategised to deal with the situation urgently and letters have been sent out to the residents cautioning them to leave.

"We realise that we have a serious problem on our hands, so the problem has to be corrected now," Powell said. He said steps have already been taken to deal with the matter, include discussions with Member of Parliament Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and the residents.

Meanwhile, Council Chairman and Mayor of Spanish Town Dr Andrew Wheatley, told the council that they were in the process of having dialogue with the squatters who will be given 14 days to move from the area after a public meeting.

The council has served notices on these individuals/establishments and has written to the National Works Agency to help with the removal.