The Ministry of Housing and Lands has completed surveying on the first section of land at Six Men’s, St Peter, as Government accelerates efforts to empower squatters with title deeds.
It has erected a billboard warning against the construction of any new structures in the area, which is considered one of the largest squatter settlements in the country.
Ian Gill, general manager of the National Housing Corporation (NHC), confirmed that the billboard was installed to preserve the integrity of the area. The notice states: “By order of the National Housing Corporation, there shall be no erection of any structures (houses or ancillary buildings) on lands owned by the NHC at Six Men’s Tenantry, St Peter.” It further warns that the NHC will exercise its rights as the owner should the directive be ignored. Gill explained that the sign was a necessary step to facilitate the Six Men’s Life Improvement Project, a specialised Tenantry Freehold Purchase Act initiative. “The billboard indicates the area to which the notice relates,” he told the MIDWEEK NATION. “The sign simply stops persons from going to randomly set up new houses. The area is being surveyed with one section completed.”
This development follows a pledge made during the February General Election campaign by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and St Peter parliamentary representative Colin Jordan. At that time, they announced that more than 100 families in Six Men’s would finally receive title deeds, correcting what Mottley described as a “historic land injustice”.
132 tenants
Jordan previously noted that 132 tenants had qualified for the programme. By February, 37 householders had received letters of
offer, with surveys under way to facilitate the transfer of titles.
While the Government moves ahead with the transfer process, sources indicated that a financial settlement regarding the land’s ownership remained unresolved. The land was originally owned by the Broomes family, who have been embroiled in a legal battle with the State for decades.
According to official sources, a high-level team comprising officials from the Solicitor General’s Office, Ministry of Housing and the Planning & Development Department has held meetings with the family over the past two years. However, negotiations have stalled.
“We were unable to reach a financial settlement as the family rejected all of the offers put on the table,” one official revealed.
It is understood that Government offered a payout of $8 million, but the Broomes family is demanding significantly more.
