KINGSTON – True to his word, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn will meet Phase 2 squatters living in close proximity of the airport at the Works Group, Timehri later this week.
Approximately 260 persons living in the area will be sub-divided into three groups – starting from Wednesday through Friday - which will allow Minister Benn and other officials to listen to their concerns, as well as, inform them of the Ministry’s progress on its relocation plan.
The relocation plan is in phases with Phase 1 being the most critical one.
On August 28, Minister Benn engaged the Phase 1 residents of the resettlement plan.
At that meeting, the Public Works Minister acknowledged that the most viable options immediately available for the squatters are either to relocate at Yarrowkabra or at other existing housing schemes. For those who had already applied for house lots, Housing officials were on hand to take pertinent information regarding their applications, while new applicants were interviewed.
“We are committed to work out what assistance or help we can do with the relocation. The only things I could say definitively at the moment, and this matter was discussed at the Cabinet, that the area identified is Yarrowkabra…You don’t have to go to Yarrowkabra you can go to other places but the important thing is that we need pave the way to start the construction of the airport. For those who can move now we are prepared to provide the transportation to assist,” Minister Benn told squatters.
Minister Benn had further stated that if the airport is not expanded and improved to meet the demands of the airlines, the business community and the travelling public then the entire country will suffer economically and more importantly, persons living in the Soesdyke/Timehri area will stand to lose financially
