ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Structures illegally erected on lands adjoining the Clifton community in St Catherine, which have been captured by criminal gangs, will be demolished starting Thursday.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, made the disclosure while providing an update on the Bernard Lodge Development Plan in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Holness said it will be a warning for all Jamaicans as the government moves to destroy the settlements that have been illegally occupied by criminal gang members.

“This will be a watershed moment in Jamaica. It is not the first time the government has moved to rectify illegal settlements, but it is the first time that an illegal settlement sponsored by a criminal gang will be treated with,” he said.

“Aside from the technical and security issues it poses, all of Jamaica must acknowledge that this is just wrong,” he said.

“I want this to be an example and a warning and a caution to Jamaicans. By tomorrow morning, action will begin to clear those structures,” Holness added.

The lands, which are in the Greater Bernard Lodge Development Area, have been designated for agricultural purposes.

Holness said that the National Security Council, in reviewing the development plan, observed an insidious and growing threat in the area where alleged gangsters were capturing lands adjoining the Clifton community.

He added that these illegal settlers have been creating their own informal subdivision and selling these lands under the false pretense of ownership or building on them.

Holness also noted that SCJ Holdings Limited, which owns the lands, has given warnings and served notices to individuals to cease and desist from the structures, but the capturing and illegal construction has continued to the point where some 30 structures have been identified.

As such, he indicated that the security forces have been instructed to have a strong presence in the area to deal with any threats from any criminal element that may want to interrupt or exercise control or present any obstacle to the Government rectifying the situation.

“So, the Jamaica Defence Force has deployed a forward-operating base metre away from this area,” he said.

“They are doing regular patrols and have created a security blanket including regular surveillance, drone surveillance and other forms of surveillance to see whether or not there will be any movement by criminals in those areas,” he added.

– JIS