Govt. Acquires 17 Damaged Houses in Caribbean Terrace
September 5, 2006The Full Story
Minister of Information and Development, Senator Colin Campbell, has disclosed that the Government has acquired 17 houses in Caribbean Terrace, St. Andrew, that were severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
The Minister, who was speaking to journalists at yesterday’s (September 4), weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that, “based on evaluation of the current properties done by Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), the organisation that was set up by the government to handle post Ivan issues, it has been agreed that the homes will be acquired”.
“These homes will provide the space for the creation of a buffer zone. In addition, the government will pay $1.5 million to each home owner to provide assistance for relocation,” he added.
Senator Campbell pointed out that the acquisition came on the heels of recommendations from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Civil Environmental and Coastal Solutions Limited.
“NEPA did a report recommending the adoption and maintenance of a development setback of 50 metres from the high water mark in the region of the coastline. The Civil Environmental and Coastal Solutions Limited presented a report with two conceptual designs.The first option proposed rehabilitation of an area with river training and implementation of coastal protection works, at a cost of some $48 million,” he informed.
“The second option recommended the creation of a buffer zone, river training and the building of coastal protection works, that is a wall, this is estimated to cost 26 million,” he added.
Based on these recommendations, there would be a comprehensive river training and dredging of the lower section of the Hope River, he said.
“Caribbean Terrace residents will continue to work with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), to make an operation and evacuation plan, which should include provisions for community education and training as well as drills,” the Minister noted.