Readers’ reactions

Scores displaced as several homes demolished in Coopers Pen, Trelawny

You cannot convince me that there wasn’t a more humane way to do this! These people faced a catastrophic Cat 5 hurricane less than a year ago. The majority of the structures aren’t even anything significant. Where will these people sleep tonight? Greed a go choke all a we! - @jahblackdawta

Inna hurricane season? - @Meyeownboss

What would cause me to put a permanent structure on land that does not belong to me or connected in any legal way. - @sheldonberry75

Build trailer home parks for the economically challenged people, u can’t just displace humans this way, its inhumane. It’s solution time, not crying time. - @author_jaywes

Removing squatters from your land is a very stressful and expensive process. Many ppl give up on their properties and move on due to fear of their lives or they can’t bear the stress or financial burden associated with removing squatters. Did you hear the ppl in the video issuing death threats and threatening to burn the hotel down? This clearly shows that they had no intentions to give up what is not theirs. The kids they speak of were failed by their parents. I’m sorry for the kids but the poor choices of their parents caused this. You had so many years to move peacefully and you decided otherwise n,ow a bawl? - @legendaryjay876

I agree that people should not build on land that does not belong to them. But we also have to stop discussing squatting in Jamaica as though it is simply a matter of people deciding to take somebody else’s land.

The issue is far more complex. Jamaica’s history of land ownership is rooted in colonial and post-colonial realities where access to land has never been equal and has largely favoured those with wealth and resources. Many Jamaicans have simply never had a fair opportunity to acquire land through the formal system.

That does not make squatting right. But demolishing houses will not solve the underlying problem. Until there is a serious national effort around affordable land, housing, regularisation and security of tenure for ordinary Jamaicans, we will continue demolishing one informal settlement only to see another emerge.

This is much bigger than simply saying, “people must not build on other people’s land”. - @kevroy81

This squatting thing needs to stop now. I am glad a strong message has been sent to prospective squatters. - @troublesome_1997

Readers’ reactions sourced from The Gleaner’s X and Instagram pages. Compiled by Khanique McDaniel