NHA throws out couple

ALMOST in tears, a sad-faced couple said Friday that together with their two children, aged 4 and 6, they have been thrown out of their home by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and now they have no where to go. Deana Loraine, 36, an employee of a private janitorial services company and  her common-law husband an MTS security guard, Ken Towine, also, 36, lived in an apartment at Almond Drive, Morvant for a number of years. Although they were not NHA tenants, they said they shared the apartment with Loraine’s godfather. Loraine said her godfather acquired another apartment and decided to transfer the tenancy to her. “We agreed to work on the arrangement, prepared all transfer documents and took them to the NHA where I saw the Minister, Martin Joseph. “He handed over the matter to the NHA’s Public Relations Officer and assurances were given that the matter would be handled at that level. “The next thing I know is a bailiff and three police officers came and threaten to evict us, because we were occupying the building ‘illegally’. We had to leave.”

In a state of confusion, Loraine said she got in touch with her constituency representative, Fitzgerald Hinds “who gave the impression that he would help.” “They seem to be helping people who they want to help, but we will know better the next time around.” Efforts to contact NHA officials for comment proved futile. However, when contacted, Hinds said: “These people are strange.  I am a busy man, if they don’t see me in any of my offices, then they should leave a message saying how they can be contacted. “I tried my best and I will continue to do my best to help, if even to help find an alternative home.” But right now both Loraine and Towine said they don’t have a home and a virtually on the street. They said all their household effects are lodged at a workshop at Caledonia, courtesy a kind gentleman. Although contented, they are not comfortable with this arrangement. They want a home.