Impasse, Four years after eviction notice served, Kettering properties yet to be vacated

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Four years after eviction notices were served to vacate properties owned by developer Keith Russell in Kettering near Duncans in Trelawny, only one family took up the offer to relocate to alternative lands provided in the neighbouring Carey Park community.

The occupants were ordered by the courts to vacate the 820-acre property that will form part of Amaterra Resort township development with the construction of 2,000 hotel rooms and an 18-hole championship golf course.

"No one nuh move - only one family take the offer," said a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Well, for me, I still think we have a right to be here."

Member of parliament (MP) for North Trelawny, Dr Patrick Harris, played a key role in quelling the dispute, which saw the serving of eviction notices being countered by numerous demonstrations by residents.

Harris agrees that more work should have been done to the infrastructure of the relocation site, but was unable to say why more of the families had not taken up the offer.

Developments in the pipeline

"I really don't want to say much on the matter. I can only credit it to the benevolence of the property owner," he told Western Focus.

The Amaterra Resort township is just one of the developments that Russell has planned for the area. The creation of 140 quarter-acre lots for the high-end market at Tamarind Ridge is also on the cards.

"It took a long time, but we finally got all our approvals in November last year," Russell said on Monday. "We updated and finished our new business plan last month and we are proceeding now to send things out for tender, seeking funding, seeking the appropriate incentives, then we can speak appropriately on the matter."

Pressed as to what will become of those still living on the land designated for development, the former politician replied: "That, again, will be addressed at the appropriate time".

The Kettering impasse began after the residents were served eviction notices between 1994 and 1995. They contended that Russell had given the land to them during his tenure as North Trelawny MP from 1980 to 1989.

A Gleaner article published on October 18, 1988 stated that Bruce Golding, then minister of construction, had endorsed the development as part of the Government's Expand A Village programme.

Despite opting for resettlement instead of pursuing the matter in the courts on the grounds of adverse possession, community members have still not budged.