RESIDENTS of Portmore Villa, a squatter settlement between the Gregory Park compound area and Christian Pen in St Catherine, are to receive certificates of possession for their plots of land at a handing over ceremony expected to take place on February 6.

Director of Operation Pride at the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), Cherrie Lee, made the announcement last week at a meeting held with the residents at the Worldwide Church of God in Portmore.

Residents, who have been living on the property for five years, have said they feared eviction, although they had been making weekly contributions to the Portmore Provident Society.

Lee said persons occupying the 379 residential lots that fall under phase one of the housing development would be the first group to receive certificates, while another 500 residents would receive certificates under phase two of the project on February 20. She said the phase one lots would be more expensive than those in phase two, as residents would have to pay for basic infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity.

She made it clear, however, that only persons who had been living on the land and who had paid the required deposit of $50,000 as well as signed their agreements would receive certificates. These individuals would be also required to become members of a Provident Society, she added.

The Operation Pride director said that while the titles for the lots were not yet ready, the certificates could be used to transact business with the National Housing Trust. “Nobody can take you off that land. It is legal papers. Once you have that in your hand, the land is yours and you can build,” she told the residents.

And she said persons who could not afford to build and who had been living on the land were to visit the NHDC for assistance.

“We are making provision for persons who have been living on the land over the years since we want to make certain that you are not deprived of what you are to get,” said Lee.

The NHDC was incorporated in April 1988 to manage the operations of Operation Pride. This resulted from a cabinet decision based on submission from former environment and housing Minister, Easton Douglas, who had said he recognised that the management of Operation Pride required strengthening.