35 residents exhale after demolition exercise called off

Residents of 85 Red Hills Road, St Andrew have received a temporary stay of execution after an operation to evict them from the premises was called off today.

Approximately 35 residents occupy the property.

A demolition order was made by the court, and activities were set to commence today.

However, the residents were adamant that they would not allow their homes and business to be bulldozed. When THE STAR visited the scene today, a backhoe was preparing to bulldoze a shop which is located at the front of the property. But, the resident stood in front the shop, using their bodies as human shields. Some of the residents hurled rocks at the backhoe, one of which damaged the windshield.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Alfred Bennett stopped the operation after the residents begged for more time. He said that he would be consulting with the necessary parties to determine the next steps.