Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has given the assurance that there will be no further changes of land use for the Greater Bernard Lodge Area.
L-R. Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister Without Portfolio, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation; Ms. Naomi Francis, Press Secretary Office of the Prime Minister; Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of State, Ministry of Industry Commerce Agriculture and Fisheries
Speaking this morning (February 14, 2020,) during a press conference at Jamaica house, on the Greater Bernard Lodge Development Master Plan, Minister Vaz noted that this directive had been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Land Management Unit.
Minister Vaz said the Original Master Plan was 3948 acres of land with 1717 acres or 43% being agricultural and 2231 acres or 57% being non-agricultural. However, he emphasized that the revised Master Plan has 5,384.48 acres.
“It is critical that I emphasize that 56% of the 5,384.48 acres will be devoted to agricultural use, 28% for residential use and the remaining 16% for utilities, open spaces and commercial use. We have therefore increased the agricultural allocation from 43% to 56% in the revised Master Plan. That, coupled with the expansion of agricultural lands and agro-investments to come, ill secure and expand food security and production contrary to misinformation being communicated”, Minister Vaz noted.
According to the Minister, the Greater Bernard Lodge Development Master Plan will seek to primarily address several housing, agricultural and infrastructural issues within the project area simultaneously.
This includes accommodating future population growth for the Kingston Metropolitan Region created by the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) in collaboration with several key stakeholders from both the private and public sectors.
The Minister further noted that it also includes creating and maintaining a vibrant, sustainable community and protecting its character and longevity while tackling the challenges of affordable housing, transportation, access to jobs and services.
He added that the Plan is consistent with the growth, employment and poverty reduction strategy of the Government.
Minister Vaz noted that the Development will affect approximately 106 lessees and 55 informal settlers who occupy a total of 1782.365 acres, but noted that all affected persons will be compensated and/or relocated.
“The compensation and relocation of these persons have already commenced with many already re-integrated and farming. In negotiations, relating to the relocation of persons, strict instructions were given that no one was to be forcibly removed”, the Minister said,
He stated that the Development will also improve several areas of Infrastructure including the provision of potable water, sewerage, waste management, and drainage, road rehabilitation in the Greater Portmore Area, aquifer protection and regularization of agricultural lots.
“The Master Plan will not take away from existing communities but will enhance the infrastructural legacy deficit which exists through development which is a part of the remit of the Master Plan”, Minister Vaz said.
Cabinet approved the revised Development Master Plan in January 2020. An Enterprise team was assembled to give oversight to the implementation of the Master Plan as approved by the Cabinet.
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