NHA denies demolition plans at La Paille

THE National Housing Authority (NHA) yesterday rejected reports it planned to demolish houses at La Paille Village in Caroni and such reports, as articulated by the villagers’ legal representatives are “completely erroneous.” Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has threatened to take legal action against the NHA for allegedly serving eviction/demolition notices to La Paille villagers. However in a statement, the NHA declared, “The authority has no involvement in the serving of such notices as has been erroneously reported and apparently, falsely alleged. Nor for that reason, has the authority been, nor can the authority possibly be, involved in any grab for lands or in any acts of discrimination or subversion of the national electoral process as has apparently been alleged by such representatives. The authority is in no way or manner exposed to any threat of legal action as has been reportedly issued by such representatives.”

The NHA recalled that similar allegations made by the same representatives involving persons at Cashew Gardens and Wallerfield were subsequently withdrawn “on the basis that the authority had been wrongly named as a defendant in such matters.” The NHA assured the population it continues to move legitimately forward with Government’s housing thrust as required by law and in that regard, has built over 3,500 houses over the last year and are today “able to ameliorate the present and urgent national housing crisis.” The NHA said it remained committed to the responsible and proper discharge of its functions and “gives the assurance that the authority will not permit its efforts to be thwarted by erroneous and misleading statements, such as have been recently reported and, apparently, made.” The NHA urged the media to “desist from reporting falsely upon its alleged involvement in the use of lands at La Paille, Caroni.”