NHA destroys 50 houses in South

TEMPERS flared and harsh words were exchanged yesterday when a demolition crew from the National Housing Authority (NHA) pulled down 50 shacks on state- owned lands in Duncan Village, San Fernando. The demolition crew was backed by a contingent of heavily armed policemen who squared off with squatters. Pensioner Emraz Small who said she was in her 80s was a pathetic figure as she sat on her couch which was placed with her other furniture in the yard, and watched as a bulldozer pushed her small shack to the ground. “Where will I go and stay in my old age? Who will take care of me?” a bewildered Small asked as her house fell to the ground with a loud crash. 

Another resident, nine-months’ pregnant mother of four Marsha Ewing, was a little luckier as the NHA demolition crew left her shack standing after her neighbours went to her home and refused to leave, as the bulldozer waited to destroy the shack. “All yuh not breaking down my house, I have no where else to put my children,” an emotional and defiant Ewing shouted as she watched the bulldozer and policemen. Ewing, 30, was supported by residents from nearby villages, fellow squatters and even strangers, who urged NHA officials to leave her house since she was due to give birth anytime and she also had four children to take care of and was a single parent.

Ewing, an occupant for almost four years, said no Letters of Comfort were given to her as were promised by NHA, who she claimed had promised to relocate the squatters. In the end her wooden, blue house was left alone, while all around, her neighbours watched helplessly as their homes were torn down. The angry squatters told Newsday they received no warning that their homes were to be bulldozed and also claimed to have received assurances from their Parliamentary representative — Prime Minister Patrick Manning — that their homes would not be pulled down. The NHA officials moved in on Union Hall Extension, Duncan Village, San Fernando around 9 am, demolishing the squatters’ houses and saying there were plans by Government to erect a new housing settlement on the land.

Yesterday’s  demolition in the southland was the latest in Government’s drive to reclaim state lands from families that have illegally erected homes. It follows similar exercises in Wallerfield and Caroni, prompted by Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley who stated that persons who were breaking the law (by squatting) would be dealt with. Speaking with Newsday yesterday, communications specialist at NHA Jervon Abraham, denied the squatters’ claim that they received no warning about yesterday’s demolition. Abraham said eviction notices were sent out to squatters informing them to remove themselves and their property within a certain period or face the consequences.

“I could present to you a letter dated July 10, 2001, which states that it has been brought to the attention of the authority that you (squatters) are occupying NHA lands at Union Hall, Housing Development without the required permission,” Abraham said as he read excerpts of the eviction notices. “Those people who were here long before would have known it was illegal and would have gotten notification, and furthermore the newer ones are complaining they had no notification but that is because they have recently moved in and erected their structures,” he continued. But councillor Sonnilal Manwah argued that NHA knew from the beginning people were illegally constructing on State lands and should have done something about the issue when the squatters had newly arrived on the lands. “Why didn’t they do something to prevent these people from putting up structures? Then the entire NHA should be fired for not doing the correct thing by evacuating the people one time,” Manwah said.

He added that there were people living on the land for over 20 years and by law if someone resides on a piece of land for 18 or more years, that land is automatically their property. Nearby, little Matthew Gunai, ten, stooped and cried as his home was pulled down. He, his mother Patricia and younger sister are now without a home. It was not known if the NHA officials would visit the area again in the future to carry out more demolition work. Efforts by Newsday to reach Prime Minister Manning for comment proved futile as we were told he was in meetings planning for the impending visit to this country by legendary former South African president Nelson Mandela and South African Archbishop, his Grace Desmond Tutu. (See page 6)