Minister silent on Bogue Lands issue
WESTERN BUREAU — There is still no word from Local Government Minister Portia Simpson Miller on when the independent probe, which she has ordered into the controversial Bogue Lands issue, will begin.
Public relations manager in the Ministry of Local Government and Sports, Ann-Marie Mittoo, told the Observer Thursday that the minister was awaiting word from the Attorney General.
“She’s awaiting word from the AG (regarding) instructions on how to proceed,” Mittoo said.
As for when that will be however, the public relations manager said she did not know.
The Minister, in the interim, left the island Wednesday for the IAAF World Athletic Championships in France and is expected to be away for about a week.
Meanwhile as they await the minister’s next move, parish councillors in St James continue to argue over the merits of the independent probe.
Two weeks ago former deputy mayor of Montego Bay, Gerard Mitchell, expressed support for an independent inquiry that was, only the week before, ridiculed by the Jamaica Labour Party.
Mitchell was a member of the former People’s National Party-controlled St James Parish Council that has been accused of parcelling out the Bogue Lands to party supporters and family members. Despite this, he insists that an independent probe is important to ensure the issue is properly aired and resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned. The probe, he said, was necessary to determine whether he and the other members of the previous administration were culpable for the activities on the Bogue Lands.
But the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has argued that an independent inquiry would prove a costly and futile exercise since the illegal occupants of the land are known and have admitted to their action.
They include former PNP councillor, Roxroy Barrett, and Martin Kellier, the brother of Derrick Kellier, who is a junior government minister.
According to an Opposition spokesman, who recently visited the lands, the resolution to the issue is simply to remove those who have only fenced-off lots and to allow those persons with large properties to go through the proper channels to have their property purchased at the current market value.
