KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Committee established to deal with issues raised by leadership from the Rastafari community has been directed to refer the matters relating to the property at Pinnacle, St Catherine, to the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.

At the direction of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, the chair of the three-person Committee appointed by her met with Land Minister Robert Pickersgill and officers from his ministry Thursday to provide documents and information related to the issue.

A private developer is seeking to construct buildings on the property, but the Rastafari community has objected to the move.

The National Heritage Trust has declared the lot on the property containing the ruins of the Pinnacle Great House a National Heritage site.

Discussions will continue on the determination of other lots to be similarly declared and protected, the Office of the Prime Minister said Friday.

The Rastafari community regards Pinnacle as the spiritual home of the movement, founded by the late Leonard P Howell who headed a community at the site between 1939 and 1945.

Pinnacle is located in the St Jago Hills Housing Development, where most of the lots are currently owned by private individuals.

The Committee which includes Professor Rupert Lewis and Ms Judith Wedderburn held a meeting with representatives of the Rastafari community last week (January 28) and is expected to meet again shortly.