Speech
Andrew Holness  ·  2026-09-17 22:13

Government Advances Relocation Plan for First Group from Cooper's Pen

As it relates to the people of Cooper's Pen, I visited them a few weeks ago and I made certain commitments to them. I'm pleased to report that significant progress is being made on the part of the Ministry of Housing, the Social Development Commission, the Ministry of Tourism through the TEF, and the JDF. We're all working together to try to find a solution to this issue of the illegal irregular settlement of land and where it becomes necessary, the resettlement and relocation of persons. We are now in the process of seeking to relocate the first set of persons from Cooper's Pen and the the strategy does not all involve the provision of land. Sometimes it is the grant of a relocation subsidy. And that is now being pursued. We will in the days to come inform the public in more detail as to where we are, but I'm pleased to say based upon the reports that I have received that work has begun and progress is being made steadily, including the survey of land that we propose to make available and hopefully, Permanent Secretary, we can begin the civil works on the land, the cutting up the road, cutting up the lots, the putting in of infrastructure. So, that is being addressed.