COOPER’S PEN, Trelawny — Residents here whose homes were demolished on August 11 say they are being forced to choose between accepting relocation grants they have not yet received and moving their tents and belongings temporarily to a site in New Town, Salt Marsh, for two weeks, with no clear indication of what will happen afterwards.

The residents, who have lived in tents since their homes were demolished, say they had been told by government officials to leave by today, Saturday, September 19. They have opted for the grants but insist they will not move until the money is deposited into their accounts.

The Government’s response to the demolition initially included humanitarian assistance for approximately 44 affected families, with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, and other agencies providing emergency support.

Among those affected are Shane Ricketts, Moesha Richardson, and a woman who identified herself only as Tia.

Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer that he had signed for a $500,000 grant but would not leave before receiving it.

Richardson explained that residents were given the choice of accepting the grant or moving to the temporary location for two weeks. She questioned the practicality of relocating families for such a short period without a plan for their accommodation afterwards.

Shane Ricketts, Cooper’s Pen resident whose house was demolished last month.

“Two weeks from now I still cannot find somewhere to live,” Richardson said. She said although she would accept the grant, she would have preferred a more permanent housing solution from the Government.

Richardson said Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness had previously given residents the impression that they would receive assistance with housing and eventually have an opportunity to acquire land.

Following Holness’s August 28 visit to Cooper’s Pen, the Government announced that land had been identified for eligible residents and that the intervention would include serviced lots and relocation grants. Holness said the lots would form part of a properly planned subdivision with roads, water, and electricity, while beneficiaries would contribute to the cost of the land and utilities according to their circumstances. He said he intended to oversee the process and hoped relocation could begin by December.

Meanwhile, Tia said her name was not on the grant list, leaving her uncertain about what assistance she would receive.

“I am feeling bad because I don’t know what’s happening for me because my name didn’t come down on the list,” she said, adding that she has lived in the community for a very long time.

Her house was demolished, and she said she and her baby had been separated, with the child staying with someone else while she remained in a tent. She said she would prefer a house or parcel of land.

Inside Moesha Richardson’s tent.

“If I get a house option or a land option I’ll definitely choose the land or the house,” she said.

Tia said residents were unwilling to move to Salt Marsh for two weeks without knowing where they would go afterwards.

“No one is willing to go to Salt Marsh for two weeks and then we’re going to get kicked off,” she said.

Richardson, who has three family members in her household, including a three-year-old child and a 14-year-old nephew, said residents were particularly concerned about being required to move before receiving the grants.

“They are saying we have to move before we get the grant. So we have to take up our stuff before we get the grant,” she alleged.

Inside Shane Ricketts’ tent.

She also questioned what she described as unequal treatment between residents whose homes were destroyed and those whose houses remain standing. Richardson said residents whose homes were not flattened were being considered for relocation to land, while those who lost their homes were being offered money to relocate.

“Our houses are demolished, and our businesses are demolished. So I don’t know why they’re not giving us back land as well,” she said.

Richardson said officials were expected to return earlier in the week to collect copies of documents residents had signed and provide arrangements for the grants, but no one had done so at the time of the
Observer interview on Friday.

Tova Hamilton, the Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern, told the
Observer that the affected residents had opted for the grants and that the Government was proceeding with the relocation process.

“The Government is working with them to provide them with grants,” Hamilton confirmed.

She said development of land for the original Cooper’s Pen residents was also under way, including site clearing and preparations for roads, lot preparation, and other infrastructure. The Government said land was being surveyed for the first group of displaced families, with civil works expected to follow.