MONTEGO BAY, St James — Labelling them as “Rolls Royce” squatters, Government senator and councillor for Montego Bay North East Charles Sinclair has blasted occupiers of commercial land at Bogue Industrial Estate in Montego Bay who have asked that the land be sold to them at a fair price.

“The people who are there are not any poor people. It’s not like the people who live in certain communities and they may go capture because they want to find a place to occupy,” he said.

Sinclair was speaking during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation. The issue involves 26 lots of land at Bogue Industrial Estate that are occupied by commercial interests, some for more than 30 years.

“I describe these persons as Rolls Royce capturers. In fact, Councillor [Martin] Kellier (People’s National Party, Welcome Hall Division) who was in this meeting, come to council already and say he drive a different car come every meeting. So it’s not poor people we are talking about, we are talking about Rolls Royce capturers,” the senator thundered.

Councillor Kellier has a declared interest in the Bogue lands and, as usual, he recused himself from the meeting while the issue was being discussed.

Commentary on the Bogue lands saga, which has dragged on for years, recently resurfaced after Opposition spokesman on citizen security and productivity Peter Bunting weighed in on the issue during a visit. He promised occupiers that, under a PNP Administration, the minister of housing would act swiftly to facilitate sale of the land, at a fair price, to those who have used it for commercial purposes for decades.

Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon later rubbished Bunting’s proposal.

On Thursday, Sinclair also staunchly opposed any move to sell the land for less than market value.

“It’s not people looking a place to live, it’s significant business operators. But strangely enough, it’s persons who are connected and they want to take the people’s assets and give it away. [I’m] not supporting that,” he declared.

He said proceeds from the sale could go a long way in funding projects that will benefit the city.

“You know what I find strange? Some of these same people who refuse to pay the
mense. I see them up at the courthouse suing their tenants… but they don’t want to pay to the municipal corporation for the occupation of the property,” said Sinclair, who is an attorney.

“I’ve been at the courthouse and I have seen somebody who is connected to a former councillor who capture one of the properties and sell it off in portions to people, take people to the court because they want to recover possession of the property. They want to get the full benefit as an owner but they don’t want to pay the rent and they don’t want to carry through the process to conclude the sale,” he continued.