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Holness expresses concern for Cooper’s Pen families
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Culture & Society

Holness expresses concern for Cooper’s Pen families

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed concern for families displaced by the demolition of 20 houses in Coopers Pen, Trelawny.
  • The government has mobilized resources for immediate humanitarian aid, describing the situation as a disaster.
  • Holness emphasized the need to address informal settlements compassionately and sustainably, while condemning squatting.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has voiced deep concern for families displaced by the demolition of 20 houses in Coopers Pen, Trelawny, Jamaica. Describing the images emerging from the community as disturbing, particularly one showing a newborn and its mother displaced, Holness stated that the government has mobilized immediate humanitarian assistance.

"The incident is quite concerning, and many of the images that we have seen are disturbing. My heart goes out to the families who have been displaced," Holness said. He confirmed that resources from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security were deployed to address the humanitarian crisis.

The incident is quite concerning, and many of the images that we have seen are disturbing. My heart goes out to the families who have been displaced.

— Prime Minister Andrew HolnessExpressing his concern for the families impacted by the house demolitions.

While acknowledging the complexity of the situation, which involves court rulings, Holness committed to a thorough review once full details are available. He stressed that the incident highlights Jamaica's long-standing challenge with informal settlements, advocating for a compassionate, fair, and sustainable approach. "Squatting is wrong; informal settlement is not encouraged, but yes, every single Jamaican should have equal opportunity to get access to land and housing," he asserted.

The prime minister outlined a two-pronged government strategy: addressing the immediate needs of affected families and developing a structured program to tackle the broader issue of informal settlements. This includes formalizing and regularizing existing irregular settlements while implementing measures to prevent future squatting and informal expansion. Holness assured that the government would find ways to support impacted families without setting unsustainable precedents.

Squatting is wrong; informal settlement is not encouraged, but yes, every single Jamaican should have equal opportunity to get access to land and housing.

— Prime Minister Andrew HolnessStating the government's stance on squatting while affirming the right to housing.
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Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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