Holness seeks way forward for displaced Coppers Pen families

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stepped into the Coppers Pen demolition controversy, telling displaced residents that while he cannot promise they will remain on the disputed lands, his Government will work towards finding a fair and sustainable way forward.

Holness visited the Trelawny community following the demolition of several homes on August 11, saying he wanted to see the situation for himself and speak directly with those affected.

“I’m here today to conduct for myself a ground-truthing exercise,” Holness said during the visit.

The Prime Minister said he was saddened by the demolition and moved quickly after the incident because of concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis.

But while offering hope of assistance, Holness made it clear that residents should not expect promises that he does not have the authority to keep.

“I have no powers to keep you here. So the conversation is not about keeping you here,” he said.

Instead, Holness said the Government's focus would be on finding alternatives that could allow the affected residents to move towards “regular and legal occupation of land”.

He said he had taken time to examine the complicated history of the Coppers Pen dispute before intervening and that Wednesday’s visit was part of efforts to move the matter towards a resolution.

A Ministry of Housing team has already begun social surveys of affected households, with assistance expected from the Social Development Commission.

Holness said the Government wants any solution to be “sustainable, fair and just”, while also giving residents a pathway towards legal property ownership.

He argued that secure land ownership could help residents break cycles of intergenerational poverty and create a more stable future for their families.

For residents facing uncertainty over where they will live next, however, the Prime Minister's message was clear: the Government is willing to help, but it will not make promises about allowing them to remain on disputed property.

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