Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness asked the Jamaica Constabulary Force to review eviction procedures after a controversial eviction in Trelawny.
- The eviction involved over twenty families and was executed by JCF officers with heavy equipment, raising concerns about prior notice and humanitarian implications.
- Opposition Leader Mark Golding called the situation a humanitarian calamity, stressing the need to prioritize restoring the families’ lives.
- Following the eviction, police detained at least 25 men to prevent resistance, but released them without charges after several hours.
- The Prime Minister stated that police must execute court orders professionally and with respect for the affected individuals’ rights and dignity.
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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has asked the Jamaica Constabulary Force to reevaluate its operational procedures for conducting lawful evictions.
He made this request during a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday, September 2026. This was stated in a release from Jamaica House.
Prime Minister Holness’ request follows the controversial eviction of more than twenty families from lands they allegedly occupied illegally in Coopers Pen, Trelawny. Men with heavy equipment, supervised by a contingent of JCF cops, carried out the mass eviction and demolition exercise. This occurred on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The land in question has been the subject of a court case for approximately 17 years, dating back to 2009. Residents claim that some families have occupied this parcel of land for more than three decades that.
However, the history surrounding the land couldn’t prevented the demolition from occurring without any prior notice to the residents.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness later stated that neither he, his ministers, nor Trelawny Northern MP Tova Hamilton were aware that the operation was imminent. In addition, he goes to describe the situation as a humanitarian crisis.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding went even further, labeling it a humanitarian calamity. Furthermore, he emphasized that restoring the families’ lives should be the immediate priority.
The police have faced public backlash for reportedly detaining at least 25 men from the community during a pre-dawn operation that took place before the eviction. Many residents the police detained to prevent potential protest or resistance. Moreover, the police released the men without charge after the demolition.
These men have filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming that the police violated their constitutional rights. The police held for several hours without any criminal charges and released only after the eviction.
In a statement from Jamaica House, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the police have a general duty to support the execution of court orders. However, he emphasized that this duty must be carried out with professionalism and respect for the rights and dignity of those affected.
It is ironic that the Prime Minister, who was previously aggressive towards the demolition victims—referring to them as “squatters”—now adopts a softer tone. Notably, it took him nearly a week of silence after the incident to release a statement.