Juliet Holness’ company and St Andrew landowner in fresh talks to end bitter land dispute

Lawmaker Juliet Holness' company, JAJ Development and Holdings Limited, and marketing consultant Charlene Ashley are again attempting to settle their bitter dispute over land in St Andrew. 

A court trial, which started in May 2023 and last adjourned in June, was set to resume Monday for four days, with JAJ's attorney, Rose Bennett-Cooper, continuing her cross-examination of an expert witness used by Ashley.

However, before proceeding this morning, Bennett-Cooper sought permission from presiding judge Justice David Batts to approach him with a matter.

She and Ashley's attorney, John Clarke, conferred privately with the judge, then continued discussions outside the courtroom.

Upon their return, Bennett-Cooper requested an adjournment on behalf of the parties, stating they wished to "do certain things".

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“So far, the conversation has been somewhat fruitful, to the extent that some lack of clarity has become very clear, and we crave your Lordship's indulgence for the parties to continue the conversation,” she explained.

Though withholding specifics, Bennett-Cooper noted the parties wanted their expert witnesses to visit the land in question on Monday.

Batts reminded the parties of their earlier failed efforts, including on the first day of the trial last year.

However, Bennett-Cooper hinted that the renewed talks might go differently, given that an undisclosed issue had become clearer.

Batts remarked, “We know how it is; sometimes you want all, you lose all,” and added, “a settlement is better than a thousand days in court."

Bennett-Cooper responded, “Very often your brilliant victory is a pyrrhic one.”

"Pyrrhic!" the judge repeated before adjourning the matter for the day and the trial to continue Tuesday.

Both Holness, a member of parliament, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and wife of the prime minister, and Ashley were present in court. They have both testified and faced cross-examination.

JAJ sued Ashley in 2020, seeking the splintered title for land on which its $800-million incomplete apartment complex is located in Leas Flat, St Andrew.

The company had purchased Lot Two of the property for $22 million in 2012, while Ashley lives on Lot One.

As part of the agreement, Ashley was to receive an apartment as partial payment and provide the splintered title, which was requested weeks after the transaction in October 2012.

Ashley contends she couldn't deliver the title due to issues with the subdivision and the company's alleged delay in providing drawings, which she said were submitted in 2020.

She claims the subdivision would require the removal of her current gateway.

In December 2022, Ashley provided a title, but Holness argued it did not comply with the sales agreement, noting that the access road between the two lots was five metres short of the eight metres allegedly agreed upon.

She also pointed out that the width fell below the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation's minimum requirement of 6.2 meters.

The two women have exchanged accusations, with JAJ's attorney also claiming Ashley is trying to steal land necessary for the access road. Ashley has countered by accusing Holness of using her influence and state agencies to bully her.

Both parties have denied the allegations.

Ashley has countersued JAJ, accusing it of trespassing on her lot and breaching the sales agreement by destroying concrete structures, including a border wall, to build the access road to the apartment complex.

Holness has denied the accusations.

- Jovan Johnson