KINGSTON, Jamaica — Milton Brown, who represented the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in Wednesday night’s Local Government Debate, said the Government will move to regularise established squatter communities and provide adequate housing to prevent the development of new ones.

The councillor candidate for the Mineral Heights division in South East Clarendon was responding to Power 106’s Damion Mitchell who asked: What will you do to stop the practice of squatting and people building in restricted areas?

“Squatting has been a problem over many years, over many political regimes and it is so intention, in the first instance, those persons who are now on lands, and the situation is such that they cannot be removed because of the nature of the development, is our intention to make sure that they have the amenities that are necessary for good living,” Brown responded.

He said the JLP would also put in place enforcement measures to prevent squatters from occupying more lands and try to convince them that such a move is not worthy.

“You recognise that squatting takes place where there’s development and the Jamaica Labour Party will make sure that where we have developments [and] where development is taking place, that we make preparations that persons are adequately housed in these areas and they don’t have to end up squatting,” Brown added.

In the meantime, The People’s National Party (PNP) Scean Barnswell said his party has worked with the United Nations (UN) Habitat Programme and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to improve infrastructure in crime-plagued squatter settlements. 

He also highlighted the Japanese-funded Land Administration Management Programme (LAMP), which he said “has been assisting the people of the country as to how they can get their property, their land title and their place regularised”.

“So you are living in an informal settlement, do not be afraid, under this People’s National Party led council, we’ll ensure that you get your title for that place you are living in,” he encouraged.

However, Brown quickly pointed out that LAMP was started by the JLP.

“LAMP started under minister Montague, I take note that my collegue is claiming patronage for LAMP but LAMP was started under the Jamaica Labour Party,” he said.