Garwin Davis, Freelance Writer
THE URBAN Development Corporation (UDC), has issued warning letters to scores of squatters to leave the 474-acre Barrett Hall property in St. James which is slated for development.
The UDC said a "series of notices" over the past six years requesting the squatters to vacate the property has been ignored. It insisted on Thursday that a seven-day notice that expired on June 28 will be the last warning to the illegal settlers.
"The UDC is reclaiming 191.5 acres of the property for its own development which will be undertaken in two phases," the company said.
"Under the first phase, 106 acres have already been fenced for residential development. The second phase involves the development of 85.5 acres which the Corporation is now moving to secure for commercial and social use."
The agency also said it had community meetings where the squatters were advised of the its development plans for the area and were again discouraged from carrying out any further construction. The meetings had no effect however on the continued erection of unauthorised building on the property.
The squatters, in the meantime, have accused the UDC of using bullying tactics. "This land has been abandoned for over 30 years and was dismissed as a wilderness," said Rohan Chapman, who, himself, is building a house on the property.
"It was only after we decided to get the place to where it is today that the UDC now sees it fit to intervene. What they are doing is not fair and will certainly shatter the dreams of a lot of people," said Mr. Chapman, who added that he had spent over $200,000 so for on material for his house. He said that he would be willing to work out an arrangement with the UDC to be allowed to stay on the land.
The UDC, however, is saying that they had given squatters the opportunity to purchase their own lots but none had taken up the offer. "Persons interested in buying into the development were asked to indicate their intention in writing by January 31 and to make a 15 per cent deposit on the cost of the lot at the same time," the UDC said.
"Persons were also asked to present proof of their ability to complete the payments within a 12-month period. Nine persons responded within the deadline, indicating interest. However, no deposits were received, neither was proof of ability to complete the payments presented."
But Mr. Chapman and other settlers are denying this claim, saying that the UDC has never made such a proposal. "If I had received such an offer I would definitely have taken it up," Mr. Chapman added.
Paula Davis, another squatter, has been living at her present resident for the past four years and said that she has always wanted to pay for her plot of land. "I don't want to live here for free," she said. "I have spent over $3 million on my house and has every intention to remain here."
Ms. Davis noted that she has been to the UDC's regional office in St. James to make payment arrangements but was unsuccessful in her attempts. "When they say we should pay a 15 per cent deposit, I would like to know 15 per cent of what? she asked, insisting: "At no point have we been told how much it would cost us to own the land."
