The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is demanding that minister responsible for land, and People’s National Party (PNP) chairman, Robert Pickersgill, order an immediate probe of allegations of “a political scheme involving illegal ‘sale’ of public lands in Runaway Bay, St Ann.”
JLP spokesman on Land, Senator Alexander Williams, said the JLP has learned that the National Land Agency (NLA), which owns the lands involved, has prepared a written notice for distribution to the ‘purchasers’ of plots there to vacate the lands. The notice advises that houses under construction on the property will be demolished.
The lands said to be involved are close to Cardiff Hall and near Mount Edgecombe and have some infrastructure.
Weeks ago, the matter came to the attention of the North Coast Times after complaints from people in the nearby Cardiff Hall scheme. JLP caretaker for NW St Ann, Othneil Lawrence, had also sent a letter to the editor making the claims that plots were being captured or taken over and that there was official involvement.
The Times made enquiries through the Parish Council and was promised a response but none came.
The allegations were publicly raised by Mr Lawrence, at a recent JLP mass rally in Alexandria, St Ann. The claim was reported on television news a day later.
According to Mr Williams in a release: “So far, however, Dr. Dayton Campbell, the PNP M.P. for North West St. Ann where the alleged political land scheme was sited, has reportedly failed to publicly respond to queries from the media.
He said he understands that the St Ann’s Bay Mayor, Desmond Gilmore, has also remained silent on the matter, despite reports that the Parish Council which he chairs, recently placed a stop-order on the controversial development in the Cardiff Hall area of Runaway Bay.”
The JLP spokesman said, “the Runaway Bay scheme appears to have had solid political backing, based on the continued silence on the matter from the sitting Councillor, the Member of Parliament and the Mayor.”
