Regularisation and sale of Bogue lands to begin

MONTEGO BAY, St James:

After a decade of attempting to prove its ownership of lands known as the Bogue Industrial Terrace, the St James Parish Council received a title for the property last December.

"We are overjoyed at this development. The council has always been aware of its ownership ... . A lot of potential funding (from the properties) has been lost over the years, but we will be moving quickly to now regularise the properties for their sale," stated council chairman, Mayor Charles Sinclair.

He said the municipal authority had been lobbying for the transfer of the lands prior to 2003 when an enquiry on the status of the land was conducted by Dennis Morrison, of DunnCox, who was engaged by the Ministry of Local Government in November 2003.

Funds could help improve market

Sinclair believes that the returns from the sale of the properties could net approximately $400 million - an amount that could offset costs of the renovation and sustained improvement of the Charles Gordon Market.

"These lands were occupied illegally, but as they were seen as owned by the commissioner of lands, we had a difficult time implementing any form of regularisation programmes there," the mayor further stated.

"Now that it is clear that the lands are in the name of the parish council, we intend to move quickly."

According to an extract from a Cabinet decision, dated December 19, 2005, regarding the proposal for the regularisation and sale of lands at the Bogue Industrial Terrace, Cabinet gave approval for:

I. The transfer of lands known as the Bogue Industrial Terrace from the commissioner of lands to the St James Parish Council consistent with the advice of the Attorney General's Department;

II. The regularisation of the use of the existing lands at the Bogue Industrial Terrace consistent with the recommendations; and

III. The sale of lands known as the Bogue Industrial Terrace to qualified purchasers, including existing occupants in the recommendations.

Sinclair wants persons now occupying the area - who will be given preference to purchase their properties - to cooperate with the parish council as it seeks to make good on its promise to regularise the Bogue Industrial Terrace.