Demolition is not the answer
Dear Editor,
I agree with urban planner Dr Carol Archer who did not support the demolition of houses near Clifton in St Catherine. Dr Archer echoed the point that affordable shelter is a right of all Jamaicans.
Recently, the Government began the process of demolishing houses built illegally on captured lands in St Catherine. People watched in despair as their dwellings were demolished. Squatting is a problem which affects the entire country. It is a byproduct of the state of affairs of the country, the economy, poor planning, and governance.
I fully agree with Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, who called the act of demolition of houses at Clifton cruel and insensitive without adequate notice or consideration for the impact on the families affected. Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s presence at the site the next day, hugging and empathising with residents, was a poor attempt at public relations and damage control.
Years ago when I was in sixth form I did a research project on gully bank squatter settlements. This was part of the General Certificate of Education Advanced (A) Level georgraphy exam. I identified a few sites and, along with a classmate, we ventured in fearlessly to interview several squatters to understand their circumstances, plights, and concerns. Their stories were painful to hear and all followed the same theme. They chose the dangerous edge of gully banks, which were uninhabited, to build small dwellings made of board, zinc, and concrete.
To say that squatting breeds crime is unfounded. The squatters I met were simply trying to live; some had jobs, others hustled to earn a living. Some inherited their dwellings. They did what they had to do to put roofs over their heads and provide housing for their families, despite the economic hardships. Government was not able to help, so they helped themselves. Many of us would probably do the same thing if we were faced with similar adversities and hopelessness.
No one in their right mind would support squatting as a solution or breaking the law to build homes on captured lands. Squatting is part of our reality, it exits, more so in poor countries that are underdeveloped. Government agencies and urban planners could explore other options to help those living as squatters to provide a pathway to legitimise ownership and even offer assistance to enhance their dwellings to ensure safety from the elements, considering children also live in these dwellings.
Every human being deserves to live in a decent space. Our surroundings affect our mental state and how we interact socially. If we live in filth, it affects us, and we will be inclined to act and interact accordingly. We are all affected somehow. We should also be mindful that development is not only about the developers and the Government who profit from large-scale, private development projects. There are economic, social, and environmental issues.
I don’t believe demolishing homes benefits anyone without an adequate plan to help those who are displaced. We must think of the consequences of our actions before we act.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com