The Jamaican Government has distributed 19 humanitarian grants worth a combined J$9.9 million to vulnerable families displaced following the demolition of homes at Cooper’s Pen in Trelawny. The grants were handed over on Saturday, September 19, as part of the Government’s relocation assistance programme.
Cooper’s Pen residents
HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN
- Individual families received between J$200,000 and J$800,000, depending on their circumstances.
- Some affected residents have been living in government-provided emergency tents since August 12.
- The wider demolition affected roughly 40 to 44 families after homes were removed from privately owned land in August.
- Government officials stressed that the Government does not own the Cooper’s Pen property and was not responsible for the eviction or demolition.
- The assistance is part of a wider government response announced after Prime Minister Andrew Holness visited the affected community.
- Authorities have identified land in Hague, Trelawny, for possible resettlement. Officials say eligible residents would have an opportunity to acquire subdivided lots rather than receive them free.
Homes at Cooper’s Pen were demolished in August following a long-running dispute involving privately owned land. The Government says it was not a party to that dispute but intervened afterward to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced residents.
DISPLACED COOPER’S PEN RESIDENTS GIVEN TENTS TO LIVE IN
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Residents who remain on the Cooper’s Pen property have been given a November 30, 2026 deadline to leave, according to government officials. State agencies are expected to continue assessing individual families to determine what additional assistance they may require.
