Cooper’s Pen relocation lacks transparency, tainted by intimidation, says PNP’s Meadows

KINGSTON, Jamaica — People's National Party (PNP) Trelawny Northern constituency chairman Dennis Meadows is describing the relocation exercise of the Cooper's Pen residents, particularly those among the original claimants, as lacking in transparency and clarity, and wrought with intimidation and political victimisation. In a statement on Wednesday, Meadows said residents were advised by the Government of a November 30 deadline to leave the property, but are yet to be clear on their status or progress in the process. "Many are yet to be formally engaged or made aware of the terms of their relocation and have taken to the streets in protest this morning," he said. Acknowledging the Government’s position of non-involvement in the private land matter and its surrounding legal issues, Meadows said the Government is now seemingly playing the role as chief bailiff in urging residents to immediately remove from the comfort of their homes and take an unspecified grant amount, and be housed under tents on lands in the Davis Pen area for two weeks. The  PNP constituency chairman described the efforts as ‘public relations and damage control’ and said residents deem the request as unreasonable, undignified and unacceptable. Meadows said, having visited the proposed relocation site in Hague, there was a sense of inactivity and dormancy. He described an absence of urgency in meeting the stated November 30 deadline and said there was no sign of infrastructural works being undertaken to accommodate residents. Meadows also highlighted promises of semi-permanent units which he said “seem no longer among the stated commitments” while accusing Member of Parliament Tova Hamilton of treating the residents' concerns with little regard. “The Coopers Pen residents have come to terms with the reality of relocation and have bought in.  They simply demand that their Government be open, clear and transparent in the process,” Meadows said.