KINGSTON, Jamaica — Like it did nearly 16 years ago, eviction is once more hanging over the heads of people who illegally occupy houses in Bourkesfield Meadows in Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine.

The lack of action by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) to remove the squatters despite a meeting of stakeholders over a year ago has resulted in the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Western, Everald Warmington, sharply criticising the government agency over its perceived negligence.

The former minister of works was also critical of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, where he previously worked, and had sharp words for the incumbent minister, Robert Morgan. He was speaking during last Thursday’s sitting of the Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC), which examined the 2025/26 budget ahead of the Budget Debate, which starts on Tuesday.

Warmington said it was “regrettable that I was a part of this ministry, and through frustration, I have to bring certain issues here to see if I can get some answers and results because I’ve tried relentlessly, and I cannot get action or answers from this ministry. So I’m forced to come here to ask publicly to get some definitive answers”.

He told the SFC that 10 years ago, reports of squatting were investigated at the housing scheme, and recommendations were made. He said meetings were held but nothing happened over the ensuing years.

“And late last year a meeting was held with the highest level, the PS (permanent secretary), financial secretary, and the chairman of the Housing Agency, and we thought the issue was resolved,” Warmington remarked. He was peeved that “of all the recommendations made then … only two units were dealt with”. He did not elaborate as to what “dealt with” meant.

“We met in November-October last year, and the decision was that by February the issue would have been dealt with, whether it was an eviction notice or what have you, where people occupy illegally,” he added.

Since the meeting, Warmington said he has repeatedly called the permanent secretary, noting “I’ve written and to date nothing has happened.”

Demanding answers, he told Morgan, “I would like today (last Thursday) to get a definitive answer as to when the decisions taken at the meeting we had late last year will be implemented or actions taken.” The hot-tempered MP insisted that he did not want to be told “shortly” as he has “been trying repeatedly, and I can’t get anything, and I’m forced to come publicly”.

In his response, Morgan said he was hearing about the situation for the first time, but having consulted with the technocrats who accompanied him before the SFC, he said he was advised that “the matter is at the highest level for consideration, so I can assure you that shortly, you will get a response”.

Warmington shot back, insisting that he was not satisfied with the answer.

“I do not accept that answer [about] the highest authority; I need more definitive stuff; the decision was taken more than a year ago in that meeting. So are you telling me it’s taking a year and three months to reach the highest authority for something to be done? I don’t accept that on behalf of the people of South West St Catherine; I need action.”

The Bourkesfield Meadows squatter issue has been a longstanding one. In June 2009 it was reported in the media that time had run out for squatters at the housing development who had ignored a notice to vacate the houses they occupied. At the time, the HAJ said the squatters would be forcibly removed with immediate effect.

Built by the Venezuelan government for victims of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the houses were never officially handed over to the intended beneficiaries after completion and were captured.

Over the years, many of the 75 units were vandalised while others have been occupied by squatters since 2005.

In a June 8, 2009 release, the HAJ said the squatters’ complete disregard for notices to leave the premises by June 8 had forced its hand in removing them from the site. It stated its intention to retake possession of the units as part of plans to repair and hand them over to the hurricane victims. It also said infrastructure works, which include the completion of roads and drains as well as sewerage, were nearing completion.