Moonilal calls HDC eviction heartless

In a media release on Wednesday, Moonilal called on the government to show compassion to the affected families. “These people have nowhere else to go,” he said.

“Why are there being treated like criminals? Why is the HDC so heartless?” The Oroupouche East Member of Parliament said that it was unthinkable that at a time when so many families are dealing with increased unemployment and crime that HDC has decided to go one step further and “throw families out on the streets”.

“I am asking the Minister of Housing to please intervene and provide these families with temporary housing.” He questioned why the HDC had also failed to provide alternative means of accommodation to these families.

Last night many of the families continued to sleep outside the building while others slept closer to the road.

They said no notice was given by the HDC of the planned eviction exercise which saw heavily armed police accompany HDC officials to the five buildings to begin the eviction process.

On Wednesday morning some of the families assembled in front of Housing Minister Randall Mitchell’s constituency office in San Fernando.

Mitchell, Newsday learnt, met briefly with them. One resident, a mother of two said they were told by the minister that he was trying his best to see what means of accommodation could be offered to the residents. “He did not give us any sure answers as he said he was looking into the problem. How do you tell someone you are looking to get a place for them if that is the case and meanwhile we are all sleeping on the roadside while you are resting comfortably in your home?” She said the children are the ones suffering the most in this situation.

“What kind of person throws babies out of their homes in the rain.

Please I am begging you Mr. Mitchell don’t leave us to suffer on the road like this. It is not a nice experience.” HDC had stated that the residents were informed on numerous occasions that they were occupying the buildings illegally. The families disregarded the notices, the official said.