Time to fix ‘massively unjust’ post-slavery landlessness, says ACCM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Association of Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM) is urging the ministers of justice and social security to work together to establish clear protocols for carrying out court-ordered evictions involving families, following the recent demolition of dwellings in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny. In a recent statement, the ACCM said the controversial demolition has highlighted the urgent and longstanding issue of landlessness in Jamaica. According to the association, the Government is well aware that the newly emancipated people in 1838 were not afforded land or property rights and that a large segment of the population continues to be haunted by this major injustice.

“On this score, the manner in which the demolition was carried out points to the need for established protocols that prioritise safeguards against violation of human dignity while ensuring enforcement of the law,” it said. READ: ‘Devastating’ demolition The association acknowledged that, until the issue of landlessness is adequately addressed, Jamaican courts are likely to continue issuing eviction orders involving large numbers of people. However, it argued that it is counterproductive for one arm of the state to address property ownership while, at the same time, contributing to social insecurity and public health concerns through the manner in which evictions are executed.

On the broader issue of illegal settlements, the ACCM called on the Government to proactively address known cases and implement appropriate policy solutions to acquire properties for the common good. “Of course, the rights of private property owners must be respected, and they are not to be penalised or victimised in the process,” it stressed. The ACCM also called for a mechanism to prevent political partisanship from obstructing efforts to resolve illegal settlement disputes.

It recommended the establishment of parish- or county-based land committees comprising representatives from the church and civil society organisations. The association further proposed that funds from the National Housing Trust (NHT) could be used to purchase properties, with lease or rent-to-own arrangements allowing beneficiaries to repay the cost over time. Describing landlessness as a “massively unjust” outcome of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the ACCM said it must be urgently and firmly addressed for the benefit of all concerne…