Topic: Population and settlement Subtopic: Rural urban migration: Squatting Name: Tevin Smith Territory: Jamaica School

Code:100023 Registration #: Year:2013 Subject: Geography

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Table of Contents

AcknowledgementsPage 3 Introduction...Page 4 Objectives of Study.Page 5 Area of Study..Page 6 Methodology..Page 7 Age of Settlements..Page 8 TopographyPage 9 Spatial Context.Page 10 Population..Page 11 Classification by SizePage 12-13 Main Sources of WaterPage 14 ElectricityPage 15 Sewage Disposal.Page 16-18 Conclusion..Page 19 Appendices.Page 20-23 Additional Information...Page 24 Bibliography..Page 25

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of a number of persons. These number of persons who participated in the data collection and we extend our gratitude to them. Special acknowledgements also to those who have contributed extensively of their time and effort: Khaiwana Williams, Gawayne Lawrence and Anton Cawley. All others who contributed but whose names are not mentioned, your contributions are appreciated.

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INTRODUCTION

The proliferation of informal settlements and its associated challenges is one of the most chronic social problems confronting the community of Granville at this time. This is widely seen as a response to the low-income and unemployed inability to access affordable land and other housing services. The unplanned nature of squatter settlements gives rise to: environmental degradation public health issues increased exposure to natural and man-made hazards, as well as a haven for criminal activities. A basic definition of squatting is the illegal or unauthorized occupation of land or housing. A squatter settlement therefore, can be defined as a residential area which has developed without legal claims to the land and/ or permission from the concerned authorities to build; as a result of their illegal or semi-legal status, infrastructure and services are usually inadequate.1 There are three characteristics of the squatter settlements which help in an understanding of the phenomenon: physical, social and legal. The physical characteristics of squatter settlements usually include services and infrastructure below the adequate or minimum levels. These include water, electricity, roads, and sanitation among others. Social characteristics of squatter settlements include a population mostly from the lower income group who are largely employed in the informal sector. Squatter settlements are (legally) characterized by illegal occupation of land as the settlers have no ownership of the land which they occupy or build their houses on.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1) To investigate the effects of squatting on the environment: for example if there is erosion or deforestation etc. 2) To determine the extend to which squatting effect on sanitation. 3) To determine the availability of public services in the community.

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Area of Study

The area I choose to study on is a community call Granville located in the parish of St .James

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Methodology
Field data was collected with a survey instrument (see Appendix1) designed to gather information pertinent to the specific objectives of the study. The questionnaire consisted of Twenty-five (25) (mostly closed-ended) items. One (1) questionnaire was intended for each squatter settlement surveyed and more than half of the items could be answered through observation. Given the project schedule, the period for fieldwork was limited to one (1) days. At the end of the period, one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were distributed and completed. Photography was also taken of the area to show a visual appeal to the teacher.

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Age of Settlements
Age of surveyed informal settlements

Years of Settlements
1% 5% 10% 0-2 yrs. 3-5 yrs. 6-10 yrs. 11-19 yrs. 20 & over

18% 66%

Figure 1

The findings of the survey revealed as represented by figure 1 that some sixty-six percent (66%) of settlements have been in existence for twenty (20) years or more. If we look at settlements which have been around for more than ten (10) years, the proportion would be represented by a significant eighty-one percent (81%). Fieldwork carried out as part of the Squatter Survey highlighted that some sixty-five percent (65%) of settlements were in existence for over ten (10) years. 1% were in existence for less than 2 years.

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Topography

Figure 2 Despite the mountainous nature of the country, the survey has shown that fifty-five percent (55%) of squatter settlements are located on lands which are relatively flat (figure 2). These lands are mostly within flood plains and along coastal areas. The remaining topography as highlighted in the figure sees twenty-two percent (22%) of the settlements on gently sloping terrain, seventeen percent (17%) on moderate slopes, while six percent (6%) are on lands described as very steep.

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Spatial Context
Jamaica with an approximate area of eleven thousand (11,000) sq. km is the third (3rd) largest Caribbean island and the largest among the English-speaking countries of the region. Geographically, it is situated at 18 15 N, 77 30 W and therefore enjoys a Tropical Marine Climate. The country is fairly mountainous with an average elevation of approximately four hundred and sixty (460) m and a maximum height (Blue Mountain Peak) of two thousand five hundred and six (2,256) m above sea level.

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POPULATION
Reliable estimate of squatting population in Jamaica has to take into consideration the distinction between the types of squatting. Previous studies carried out on squatting locally, have estimated the residential squatting population within the range of fifteen percent (15%) to twenty-five percent (25%) of Jamaicas population. It is the preferred convention to use a range and percentages as it is extremely difficult to verify every single case of squatting.

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Classification of Settlements by Size

One of the short comings of the Squatter Survey (2012) is that it did not seek to establish a typology for squatter settlements. The document Towards a Policy and Plan for Managing Squatting in Jamaica (2007), commented on this deficiency and attempted to establish one such typology based on reference to previous works as well as observation Research has shown that typologies of squatter settlements developed in other countries have been based mainly on factors such as location, building material, settlement pattern and infrastructure. While a typology of squatter settlements in Granville has not been established some consideration could be given to developing on the one proposed in Table 1. For the purpose of this study however, an attempt is being made to develop a classification of squatter settlements by size (number of households). Based on the assumption that one household in most cases amounts to one household unit or structure, the following table is suggested classification and the information represents the 320 sites surveyed.

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Classification of Settlements by Number of Household Units

# of households/units Percentage (based on 320 sites) Classification

10 or less 11 99 100 500 Above 500 No Response

18% 43% 22% 8% 9%

Incidental squatting Small settlement Medium settlement Large settlement

The present survey has revealed that some of the sites based on size (ten or less households/units) should not really be classified as settlements but should be referred to, as indicated in the table as Incidental squatting. In the survey, approximately eighteen percent (18%) of such sites (incidental) were identified, while some forty-three percent (43%) of sites fall under the category small settlements. Medium settlements accounted for twenty two percent (22%) of settlements surveyed, while large settlements comprised approximately eight percent (8%) of the data.

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Main Sources of Domestic Water

Figure 5 Squatters settlements are often said to have limited access to potable water. This study however, highlights that access within the squatter settlements is no different than the remaining island in some instances. This is so because there is access to potable water unless there is a direct shortage in the general area where the settlement lies. Although there is no information on the ready access of the particular domestic water sources, eighty-five percent (85%) of the surveyed settlements had access to water through established NWCs distribution systems and sources (legal or otherwise). This is evidenced by the information shown in the pie chart above (figure 5), with forty percent (40%) having running water in their houses, twenty-eight percent (28%) have running water in their yard and a further thirteen percent (13%) obtain water from public standpipes.

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Access to Electricity
The survey confirms the vital importance of energy to communities whether formal or informal in that all communities rely heavily on electrical power supply. The findings reveal that ninetyfive percent (95%) of squatter settlements have access to electricity (figure 6) which suggests that the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo.) lines are usually in close proximity to these settlements. From casual observations, it would appear that a large number of connections are illegal, carelessly undertaken and pose a perennial threat to settlers being exposed to electrocution.

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Sewage Disposal
The inappropriate disposal of waste within squatter settlements is an area of gross concern and has serious implications for public health, impact on natural resources and the overall state of the natural environment. As shown in figure 7, the dominant method of sewage disposal in squatter settlements is the private pit latrine which represents fifty percent (50%) of the disposal options.\

Public Pit Latrine

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Garbage Disposal

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This is followed by the private flush toilet with thirty-five percent (35%) and the public pit latrine with twelve percent (12%). All three (3) options pose a serious threat to public health and the environment in that disposal is simply in a soak away pit or a hole dug on the premises. Plate 1 shows an example of a public pit latrine seen in a squatter settlement. The remaining three percent (3%) represent other methods of disposal not specified and could include the unsanitary practice of directly using the bushes or black plastic bags which are then thrown into gullies or other convenient areas. The GIS analysis (refer to Maps 1 and 2) carried out on selected squatter regions, show that several of these settlements are in close proximity to central sewage facilities. However, they do not fall within the formal planning regime as there is no connection to these systems.

CONCLUSIONS
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The survey results of the one hundred and twenty (120) selected squatter settlements sites have resulted in several conclusions being drawn. Among these conclusions are: Sixty-six percent (66%) of squatter settlements in Granville have been in existence for more than twenty (20) years. 1. The majority of squatting in Granville is residential. 2. Physical infrastructure (roads and drains) within squatter settlements are either poorly developed or non-existent. 3. Squatter settlements have access to water and electricity but connection in most cases are illegally made. 4. Sewage, water and electricity mains are within access to the majority of squatter settlement. 5. Some thirty seven percent (37%) of the squatter settlements benefit from municipal garbage collection while the remaining resort to a combination of open dumps and burning. 6. The findings of the research should direct some commendation to the relevant authorities for making provisions to collect garbage from a number of informal settlements. 7. There is no infrastructure for proper disposal of sewage waste within squatting communities hence the dominant methods are soak-away pits and pit latrines. 8. Squatter settlements are located close to natural resources with the majority being in watershed areas. 9. With regard to land capability, arable lands account for the greater number of squatter settlements (thirty eight percent) followed closely by marginal lands. 10. The common natural hazards to which squatter areas are vulnerable have been identified as flooding, earthquakes, landslides and storm surges.

APPENDICES
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QUESTIONNAIRE The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain selected information on squatter settlements In Granville All responses should be as accurate as possible, as incomplete or inaccurate Responses will only result in inadequate planning. One questionnaire is intended for one Settlement; it is not a house to house survey. 1. Who owns the land on which this settlement is sited? a) Government b) Privately-owned c) Church d) Dont Know 2. If land is privately owned, give owners name: a) Name ______________________________________ b) Address ____________________________________ ____________________________________ c) Telephone # _________________________________ 3. If government-owned, identify the agency. a) Commissioner of Lands b) Ministry of Housing c) Urban level d) Forestry Department e) National Water Commission f) Parish Council g) Other (please name) ______________________________________ 4. Describe the topography of the land on which settlement is located: a) Relatively flat b) Gently sloping c) Moderately sloping d) Very steep 5. The vegetation cover is: a) Original tree cover b) Agricultural crops c) Secondary vegetation (shrub, grass, woodland, bare ) 6. In which physical zone is the settlement located? a) Watershed Area b) River Valley d) Flood Plain e) Coastline f) Wetlands g) Other (specify)_______________ 7. How long has this informal settlement been in existence? a) 0 2 years
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b) 3 5 years c) 6 10 years d) 11 - 19years e) 20 or more years 8. What is the predominant tenure of the occupants on this site? a) Own b) Rent c) Lease d) Squatted e) Other (Specify) ________________ 9. What is the average household size? a) < 3 persons b) 3-6 persons c) 7-10 persons d) > 10 persons 10. State the number of units on the site ______________________________ 11. Estimate the number of persons living in this settlement ________________ 12. Identify the predominant construction material used. Construction Material of Structures Concrete Board Concrete/Board Zinc sheeting Cardboard Wattle and daub Rough wood Nog Other

13. Identify the major types of land uses within the settlement: a) Residential b) Agriculture
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c) Residential & Agricultural d) Commercial e) Residential & Commercial f) Industrial g) Institutional h) Recreational i) Other (Specify)__________________________________________ 14. a) How many of the occupants farm these lands? ______________________ b) What are the main crops cultivated? _____________________________________________________ 15. What is the main method of garbage disposal? a) Municipal Collection b) Open Dumps c) Burnt d) Other (specify)______________ 16. What is the main type of sewage disposal used by the residents of this settlement? a) Private flush toilet b) Public flush toilet c) Private pit latrine d) Public pit latrine e) Bush/Gully f) Other (Specify)__________________________________________ 17. Provide a brief description of the quality of the roads and drains. __________________________________________________ 18. What is the main source of water in the community? a) Running water (in house) b) Running water (in yard) c) Public Standpipe d) Public Tank e) Other (specify) ____________________ 19. Identify the other utilities available within the community a) Electricity b) Telephone c) Cable d) Other (specify) ____________________

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20. What kind of environmental hazard is the settlement exposed to? a) Water pollution b) Air pollution c) Chemical Wastes d) Solid Waste e) Bush fire f) Landslide g) Other ______________________________________ 21. Identify any formal community groups in this community? a) Neighborhood Watch b) Environmental group c) Youth club d) Sports club/group e) Citizens Association f) Entertainment group g) Cultural group h) Other: (specify) ______________________ 22. What type of community facilities exists within the community? a) Community centre b) Nursery c) Child care centre d) Church e) Playfield f) Basic School g) Other (Specify)______________

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Photos of squatting

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Bibliography
This S.B.A could not be completed successfully without the participation of the various entities and also the sources from which my information came, which are www.google.com , www.yahoo.com and www.wikipedia.com .

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