Mitchell: I am not heartless

Mitchell during an interview with Newsday said the HDC was not heartless, but was instead upholding the law.

The minister was responding to Moonilal’s statements in a media release which called on the Government to show compassion to the affected families who were now left without shelter.

Moonilal had also stated that the families were being treated as criminals as they were “thrown out on the streets”.

However, Mitchell said lawlessness would not be tolerated by the HDC and anyone seeking to encourage such is not patriotic.

“We need to be aware of such persons,” he said. Mitchell said the residents acted unlawfully and breached the trespassing sign at their own risk.

The families were evicted from a building complex at Harmony Hall, Gasparillo.

The ministry of Social Development has since intervened and reached out to the residents said Mitchell.

He noted that officials are now offering the evicted residents food card assistance and house rental grants.

He said that rental grants can be accessed for a period of up to six months.

“We are assisting these families and the ministry is now in discussion with these residents,” he said.

A mother of three told Newsday they admitted that they were wrong, but they were asking for the Government to have mercy on them.

“Yes, we are sorry, but please just give us a place to stay. We are all willing to pay the rent. If we had a place to go we would not have done this, please think about our children,” the mother said.

Adding, the mother said she was thankful that the minister was looking into their plight.

The illegal occupation of the decrepit buildings started a few years ago when persons, learning that the structures were condemned, repaired the vandalised apartments and quietly moved in.

On Monday last, HDC officials and work crews arrived with protection in the form of heavily armed police officers from the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF). The occupants were ordered to remove their belongings from the apartments and leave.