As directed by the Prime Minister during his visit to Cooper’s Pen last month, the Ministry responsible for Housing is coordinating a whole-of-government intervention to assist members of the Cooper’s Pen community to relocate. Minister responsible for Land Titling and Settlements, Robert Montague, and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Arlene Williams, in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, yesterday (September 19) issued 19 humanitarian grants valued at $9.9 million to assist vulnerable citizens displaced in the eviction exercise conducted by the property owners.

The grants, ranging from $200,000 to $800,000 per family, are being provided to some of the most vulnerable residents, many of whom have been living under tents, provided by the Government as an emergency shelter, since August 12, 2026.

At the handover, officials outlined the Government’s position on the relocation exercise and reiterated the November 30, 2026 deadline for the evacuation of the site. Addressing residents, Minister Montague emphasised that the emergency assistance is being funded by Jamaican taxpayers. “The cheque is not a Government cheque. It is the taxpayers of Jamaica’s cheque,” Minister Montague said. “You who pay your taxes, and taxpayers from all over the country, have provided this assistance.”

Permanent Secretary Williams also reiterated that the Government is not the owner of the property and was not responsible for the demolition or displacement of the occupants. “I want it to be very clear that the Government does not own this property and the government has nothing to do with the eviction”, the Permanent Secretary said. Under legitimate terms issued by the property owners, residents remaining on the site are required to leave by November 30, 2026, while those currently occupying tents were required to relocate immediately.

Extensive work was done in engaging the occupants. A multi-sector team comprising representatives from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, the SDC, HEART/NTSA, the NHT, and the National Identification and Registration Authority, provided social support to the displaced occupants, including the formalisation of their TRN and National IDs. Many households and displaced occupants had no formal ID document or a bank account; therefore, for displaced occupants without bank accounts, the Ministry arranged a three-day facility with a commercial bank to allow beneficiaries to cash their cheques.

For residents who remain on the site ahead of the November 30 deadline, the Government is advancing a longer-term resettlement option involving the subdivision of nearby lands. Eligible residents will have the opportunity to purchase lots and transition into formal property ownership. Permanent Secretary Williams stressed that the lots will NOT be provided free of charge. “Nothing is free, and we note that some of you are gainfully employed, and so we you can enter into arrangements to buy the lots.”

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, alongside the Social Development Commission (SDC), is scheduled to return next week to assess the remaining residents and support the finalisation of the resettlement process ahead of the November 30 deadline.