Stalled by squatters

FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Squatters have taken over hundreds of acres of privately owned land across this parish, with approximately 58 acres of a 147.48-acre property at Flamingo Beach already illegally occupied, threatening to derail a major development for which a plan has been submitted to the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC).

Falmouth Mayor C Junior Gager, who on Thursday raised the alarm during the corporation’s regular monthly meeting, said the growing problem has resulted in the TMC being inundated with complaints from frustrated landowners.

“We have had a number of landowners coming to the corporation to report instances where individuals have occupied and begun developing their properties without the owners’ permission,” Gager said.