‘We have nowhere to go’ - NHT moves to evict White Wing residents

While struggling to make ends meet, Ivy Brown, along with other residents of the White Wing community in St Andrew, is asking for at least two more weeks to find somewhere to call home. On July 3, residents were served a 15-day eviction notice by the National Housing Trust (NHT).

Despite the notice period expiring on July 18, Brown and several other persons have remained on the White Wing property on which the NHT plans to construct 130 residential units and some commercial buildings.

"I don't have nowhere to live. From I was eight I live here," said the 62-year-old. Brown said that if she gets somewhere to live she is willing to pay the mortgage.

Raymond Morgan, who operates a small business in the area, is frightened by the idea of losing his livelihood. Morgan has been a carpenter for more than 30 years.

"Mi a provide fi mi grand pickney dem and mi wife. Mi have bout eight grand pickney and everybody a depen' pan mi," he said. All the children attend school in the area.

He said that he has no idea where they are going to live. "Mi did plan fi put mi furniture shop in there. Mi spen near over $1 million set up da structure deh. If mi coulda get back even half of mi money mi woulda tek it," said Morgan, as he pointed to an incomplete concrete building.

According to the NHT, the residents were aware of the plans for the property from 2005. The agency said that a housing development comprising 248 units was constructed at 231 Spanish Town Road (Palm Grove Housing Development) and residents were relocated from the White Wing property.

The Palm Grove is part of the inner-city housing project. Some residents told THE STAR that they, in fact, received units at Palm Grove but rented them out.

Meanwhile, Dwayne Berbick, corporate and public affairs manager at the NHT, told THE STAR that a meeting was held with the residents on June 1.

"It's not just the NHT's decision; it was a meeting that everybody came to. You can't agree to a time to come off the property, and now the time has come for you to come off you are saying you are not leaving," said Berbick.

Of the approximately 100 families that reside there, about 30 say they have nowhere to go. One of those persons, Morgan, said, "Mi a tell you the truth, mi naa fight gainst development, but at the same time, dem cyaa just come in and say dem a go use police and throw off people. We need more time!"

Angela Brown Burke, member of parliament for South West St Andrew, in which White Wing falls, said that when the NHT met with the residents earlier this year, "there was no objection to the process (and) everybody there understood and agreed".

"I said to them, if there is a problem you can contact the NHT directly or contact me. Persons who have contacted me are persons who want to make sure they qualify for the houses. I have not gotten a call about any other problem," said Brown Burke.