55 homes demolished at Cashew Gardens

Fifty-five houses at Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, were demolished yesterday in an exercise witnessed by the police and the owners of the land. The occupants of the houses are squatters who have been living in the land for several years. Around midday yesterday, several workmen from the demolition unit attached to the National Housing Authority descended on Cashew Gardens, where they began demolishing homes. Pregnant women, children, and others looked on helplessly as their humble homes were destroyed.

The squatters claimed that they were never served notices of the intended demolition, and they feel that their rights were infringed by the NHA. “We have nowhere to sleep tonight,” said a pregnant mother of four. She admitted that her family was squatting but feels that the Government should exercise some form of compassion, so that they could be allowed to rent the land or purchase it. Paras Ramourtar, Councillor for the area said that an emergency meeting has been called today at 4 pm to decide how the matter will be handled. He is calling on the Minister of Housing to intervene and assist the affected families.