The row between fisherfolk in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, and developers who recently purchased the fishing lands may be over after the first tranche of a 17.5 million dollars settlement was made on Wednesday.
Thirty-five fisher folk who usually ply their trade at the fishing village in Mammee Bay, St. Ann say they are pleased with a settlement from the new owners of the property, Sandals Group after they were compensated on Wednesday.
CVM Live understands that the fisherfolk and the developers agreed on an initial 20 million dollar settlement.
However violent protests by residents and fisherfolk in July and August when they first discovered the sale of the land has now reduced the settlement to 17.5 million. And at one stage, there was a heavy police presence guarding the area where the residents walk to the beach.
At the time they argued that they were gutted by the government. Their food basket and recreational area was allegedly sold without their knowledge. The area has been a fishing village for over 40 years.
Councillor for the Lyme Hall Division Geneva Gordon Bailey says half of the money has been paid to the fisherfolk and a new fishing area has been prepared for them.
