THE Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) has finally moved to secure the vast area of land circling the airport, but has left the squatters village under the flight path undisturbed.
Workmen are in the final stages of enclosing the perimeter around the airport with chain link fencing several years after squatters moved in and occupied a significant portion of land at Rock Hall, St Philip overlooking the airport.
When contacted, chief executive officer of the GAIA David Barrow reported that the parcel of land being fenced was subject to a final agreement vesting it in the airport. He said the owner had authorised the erection of the fence.
Back in 2007, enforcement notices were issued against the squatters amid concerns that the illegal development was potentially damaging to aircraft safety.
In terms of the squatters, who numbered about 100 in 2007 but whose numbers have since increased significantly, Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins explained yesterday that enforcement notices were still in effect.
“We still have valid enforcement notices against the persons who carried out development there without permission and I would not say it’s a dead matter,”he said. “It’s still a matter that as a far as I know is being addressed but not necessarily from our end, but I know efforts are being made to have it addressed because of other challenges associated with it.”
Cummins cited health issues among the concerns.
When I visited the area last week, several houses were still being built.
While some squatters pointed out that they had heard nothing since 2007 when many of them were threatened with eviction, they complained that they were still without water and electricity and that even garbage collectors did not come into the neighbourhood.