Govt. to Purchase 83.4 Acres at Galleon Beach to Provide Housing Solutions

Cabinet has given its approval for the acquisition of some 83.4 acres of land at Galleon Beach in St. Elizabeth by the Ministry of Water and Housing.
Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman made the disclosure today (February 21), while addressing journalists at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He pointed out that the acquisition of the lands represented part of the government’s continuing efforts to support measures to provide Jamaicans with secure settlement and housing.
“The fact is that this 83.4-acre portion of the property is being bought by the Ministry of Water and Housing to provide for housing solutions, settlement for over 200 families,” he revealed, adding that for many years, persons have been settling on this large property, which has a total of 121.8 acres.
Federal Realty and Trust Company Limited is the owner of the land, and according to Senator Whiteman, the landowner has “properly threatened” informal settlers there with eviction.
As a means of addressing the issue, he told members of the media that the Water and Housing Ministry has intervened and would acquire a portion of the property for resale in lots to those who were now occupying the area.
“Once the completion of the acquisition process has taken place, the land will be further developed and sold to the occupants. The purchase price of the land and any other cost incurred by the Ministry will be recovered from the proceeds of the sale to the occupants,” the Minister explained.