Land tenure issues could slow process to get hurricane victims into container homes

 

  

It could take a while longer for victims of Hurricane Melissa in Montego Bay, St. James to transition from shelters into modular homes under the government's Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelter (ROOFS) programme.

 

Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation and Mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon says 24 houses are needed in St. James.

 

Mr. Vernon says the erection of the container houses has been delayed as there are several criteria which have to be met.

 

This includes showing proof of ownership for the lands on which the houses will be placed.

 

"The office of the housing part of the Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development is not accepting a mere property tax receipt as proof of ownership for the property. Of course, these persons who are going to get the modular homes, they have to demonstrate some security of tenure. So the requirement is for them to present either a certificate of title, will or deed of gift, letter of permission signed by a JP, lease agreement along with the permission letter from the land owner, executed agreement of sale, probates, statutory declarations which should attest to the length of occupation," he noted.

 

He said failure to provide these documents will make it difficult for the process to move forward.

 

In the meantime, Mayor Vernon said for persons who have completed Phase One of the verification process, work will begin soon.

 

"I know that our team on the ground is finalising all estimates associated with the construction of the base that must be provided to receive these modular homes and that information will be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development no later than June," he advised.

 

He was speaking at the recent meeting of the municipal corporation.