PNP welcomes progress on relocation of Cooper’s Pen residents, calls for justice and accountability

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) is acknowledging the reported progress towards the relocation of residents of Cooper’s Pen whose homes were demolished in the early hours of August 11, 2026. In a statement on Tuesday, Trelawny Northern Constituency Chairman Dennis Meadows said the announcement that the Government is moving to relocate the first group of affected residents is an important step towards addressing the circumstances faced by more than 20 residents and their families following the demolition of their homes. “We acknowledge the progress being reported in identifying and surveying suitable relocation sites. However, this must be viewed as the beginning of a process to properly address the circumstances of the affected families. Those residents deserve safe, suitable and secure housing, and they must be treated with dignity throughout the process,” Meadows said. Noting the PNP’s previous calls for practical housing solutions, Meadows said the Government’s consideration of these options is consistent with recommendations already advanced by the Opposition. “What is important now is that the proposed solutions are implemented efficiently and that the affected residents are meaningfully consulted throughout the process,” he said. He stressed that relocation cannot simply mean moving families from one place to another. “It must provide them with safe and suitable accommodation and restore a measure of stability to families whose lives have been significantly disrupted,” Meadows said. Meadows also said the review directed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness into the operational role of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in evictions is necessary. “The events at Cooper’s Pen have highlighted the need for greater clarity around the role of the police in evictions. The JCF must operate within a framework that protects citizens, maintains public order and respects the rights of all parties involved,” Meadows said. He noted that the circumstances surrounding the demolition have already created significant legal and public-policy concerns and said lessons must be drawn to prevent similar situations from occurring elsewhere. “The people of Cooper’s Pen deserve justice, and the country deserves assurance that the circumstances that led to this situation will be properly examined. The focus must now be on ensuring that the affected families are adequately supported, that appropriate housing solutions are delivered and that there is accountability for the processes that led to their displacement,” Meadows added.