‘Payment for land acquisitions not fast enough’

Deputy President of the Senate Elizabeth Thompson wants Government to act with greater haste when it comes to compensating land owners whose property is compulsorily acquired under the Land Acquisition Act.

Speaking in the Senate on Monday during debate on the Appropriation Bill 2022, Senator Thompson said although many important public works were carried out as a result of the Act, compensation for owners of the land used was not provided in a timely manner.

“While it has been well used for national purposes, whether it is to improve and expand the Harrison Cave . . . or whether it has to do with the compulsory acquisition of lands for the construction or the extension of roads, the legislation has served us well; however, in the process, property owners have suffered significant losses and have not been compensated,” she acknowledged.

“Just as the legislation allows for the compulsory acquisition of the lands that are needed, it also mandates that Government should pay for the lands that are taken.”

Senator Thompson added that in some cases, property owners died before any form of compensation was obtained.

She said this is a trend that required immediate attention from the authorities.

“Often people die, a second generation of the family grows up hearing that they used to own a piece of land that the road was now on, and nobody is compensated at all. In the constituency of St James South, which I used to have the honour to represent, there is still a community at Halls Village that I believe is awaiting its compensation for the road that I was able to lead the construction of but I would wish to see it completed.

“I am not just making this point out of a form of self-interest; it really is a wider point as it relates to acquisitions all over the country,” she insisted.

Senator Thompson stated that though these acquisitions are often for the public good, compensation for the original land owner should be paid in a timely manner. (SB)