Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The sweetheart deal, which saw political activists, families and associates of politicians illegally taking over and occupying St James Parish Council lands at Bogue, in St James, could turn sour for some of the occupiers, based on the latest developments out of the council.

In a recent interview with The Gleaner, the chairman of the parish council and mayor of Montego Bay, Charles Sinclair, said the council was now awaiting an engineer's report to determine a final cost for the property, which is divided into more than 30 lots and is considered prime real estate.

"Once we have that engineer's report, we will be able to work out a final cost," said Sinclair, who noted that the property will not be sold below market value. "If the current occupiers cannot afford it, we will move to other buyers. There will be absolutely no concession to them."

Illegal occupation

The Bogue property became controversial in 2003, during the last People's National Party administration, when the then opposition Jamaica Labour Party raised an alarm about political activists, the families of politicians and at least one politician, taking over sections of the property without the requisite authorisation for their private use.

Sinclair, who was then a regular councillor, was instructed by then mayor, Noel Donaldson, to investigate the claims. In his report, submitted in December 2004, Sinclair produced a scathing 12-page document in which he claimed he had uncovered "gross irregularities, abuse of power and political nepotism".

Following the release of the report, the then minister of labour and former prime minister Portia Simpson Miller, appointed a committee, headed by publisher Lloyd B. Smith, to examine the issues and make recommendations to bring closure to what was then being called 'The Bogue lands saga'.

Since becoming mayor, following last December's Local Government elections, Sinclair has been working assiduously to bring closure to the issue. However, he has made it clear that expediency will not stop the council from making sure that the illegal occupiers do not benefit from their occupation.

No special treatment

"Even if the present occupiers are able to purchase the lands they are now occupying, it will not be the end of the matter for them," said Mayor Sinclair. "They will be required to pay the building fees for the structures they have erected and they will also have to pay a 'means profit', which is a form of rental, for their six-year occupation.

"As I have said before, those who cannot meet the council's terms and conditions will have to leave," added Sinclair. "There will be no special considerations or concessions."

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com