Promised Pinnacle lots still not assigned to Rastafari community

The government has still not delivered on its promise to assign lots at Pinnacle in St Catherine to the Rastafari community.

In 2014, Rastafarians protested an announcement that a private developer had planned to do construction on the Pinnacle lands, which was home to the first Rastafarian community in Jamaica.

Outrage from the Rastafarian community prompted the government to set up a committee to find an amicable resolution.

Committee member Burchell Whiteman told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that the land ministry agreed to preserve five lots for the Rastafarian community.

However, he says no official documents were signed.

The National Heritage Trust has already declared one lot at Pinnacle a national monument prohibiting developers from destroying it.

However, the Rastafarians remained adamant they should be granted more or all of the lands at Pinnacle. 

Efforts to get comments from the current land minister Dr Horace Chang and Culture Minister Olivia Grange on the progress proved futile up to late yesterday.