Manning orders probe into NHA demolition

Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday ordered a full-scale investigation into the demolition by the National Housing Authority (NHA) of more than 50 homes occupied by squatters on State-owned lands at Duncan Village, San Fernando on Thursday. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated: “In  reference to an article on Page 3 of today’s Newsday — ‘NHA Destroys 50 Houses in South’ — Prime Minister Patrick Manning would like to state categorically that at no time was he advised that the National Housing Authority (NHA) would demolish squatters’ homes in Duncan Village, San Fernando.

“Since the demolition, the Prime Minister has been receiving conflicting reports from various sources. As a result, he has ordered an investigation to determine whether proper procedures were followed before demolition activities, as this is normal and expected,” the release ended. When Newsday visited Duncan Village on Thursday, several irate squatters claimed they never received eviction notices and said that their Parliamentary representative — Prime Minister Manning — assured them previously that their homes would not be demolished. The demolition crew was accompanied by several heavily armed policemen, whom the squatters alleged were abusive and even threw a female squatter to the ground when she refused to leave her home. Using a bulldozer and sledgehammers, the crew moved systematically among the shacks, pulling down more than 50 houses.

Several attempts to reach NHA’s communication’s specialist Jervon Abraham for comment yesterday, proved futile. Mother of three, Hazel Rampersad said many of the squatters were forced to spend Thursday night huddled next to each other in a nearby pavilion to escape the inclement weather and cold conditions. She said a few of them built makeshift sheds for their children to sleep.   Still trying to come to terms with the sudden loss of her home, Rampersad, near tears said, “They could have given us a warning and some time to move. We lost thousands of dollars here.” Rampersad said on Thursday night, Community Development Minister Joan Yuille-Williams brought food for the displaced squatters while members of the Defence Force provided cots for some of them to sleep on. While thankful to Minister Williams and the Defence Force personnel, Rampersad said not enough was being done, since the squatters still had nowhere to stay.

Several children who were made homeless by NHA’s demolition, were unable to attend school yesterday since their school uniforms, bookbags and sneakers were either water-soaked or missing. Amid broken homes and displaced neighbours, nine-month-pregnant mother of four Marsha Ewing (whose home was spared by the NHA demolition crew) said she was praying the NHA crew did not keep its promise to return and break down her home. Ewing’s home was spared after she and villagers refused to leave the house, which she occupies with her four children who are aged six to 13 years. “I’m praying they don’t come and I thank God for my neighbours. Right now I have pains. I just holding on because I due to have my baby anytime,” Ewing sobbed.