Squatting has been a problem in this country for decades. In fact, some historians argue that the problem goes back as far as the period just after Emancipation as the ex-slave owners were paid more than £5.85 million — a huge sum in those days — by the British Government for loss of their human property.

In contrast, the freed slaves got nothing. They were left penniless, landless, with only the rags on their backs, and those who stayed on to offer their labour on the plantations were required to pay rent from their meagre wages. Laws were also passd making it illegal for the former slaves to own land.

That said, we cannot condone what exists today, even if the property is owned by the State.

However, in cases where people break the law and set up structures on land that does not belong to them, there is a process to have them removed. That process — based on the evidence available so far — was not followed in the case of the demolition of incomplete houses at Clifton, St Catherine, last week by the Government.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced in Parliament that an illegal settlement, sponsored by a criminal gang, had been developed in Clifton. As such, he stated that the structures would be demolished, starting Thursday morning, and that the lands, which are part of the Government’s Greater Bernard Lodge development plan, will be regularised and legitimate owners provided with titles.

The demolition exercise started but was eventually put on hold as it sparked public outrage, particularly after people affected by the action told their stories to the media.

Prime Minister Holness, in an obvious attempt at damage control, went to the community Friday morning and told people affected by the action that the Government was moving to regularise occupation of the lands.

He said he would be talking to the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica (SCJ), which owns the land, to get the main road improved and that the Government has acknowledged that the community should be properly regularised.

“I am a builder, so I don’t like to tear down things. All I have been telling people to do is to build, build, but we cannot build illegally,” Mr Holness said.

He is, of course, correct in insisting that the law needs to be observed, but Mr Holness, we believe, should have engaged the people before taking action.

This situation, though, brings into sharp focus the fact that local authorities are neglecting their duties in relation to the construction of buildings. Mr Fitz Jackson, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine Southern, was reported as saying that when the buildings started going up on the Clifton lands he had alerted the SCJ, but nothing was done. If that is true — and we have no reason to doubt Mr Jackson — it is further proof of the abdication of duty within State agencies.

There are many examples of buildings already constructed or now under construction or expansion without the requisite permits. It is not unreasonable to conclude, therefore, that the system is stained by bribery and other acts of corruption.

The Town and Country Planning Act provides for fines and/or imprisonment for anyone found in breach. Where the nation has fallen short is in enforcement of the law.