Squatters’ homes demolished again

FOR the second time in less than two weeks, the National Housing Authority (NHA) swooped down on Union Hall Extension, Duncan Village, San Fernando squatters yesterday, to oversee the demolition of five houses which were rebuilt by the squatters. The homes were first pulled down on April 22. However, while the residents told Newsday an NHA crew came yesterday and pulled down the structures, NHA communications specialist Jervon Abraham said the squatters themselves pulled down the houses after being told to do so by NHA officials, and there were no tractors or heavy police presence.

On April 22, NHA demolition crews backed by armed police, destroyed 50 houses, forcing the displaced squatters to seek shelter at a nearby pavilion. MP for the area, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, has since ordered an investigation into the demolition. Yesterday’s action came amid a lawsuit hearing in the San Fernando Civil Court brought on behalf of the squatters by former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC. Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Sherwyn Smith claimed he was approached in an aggressive manner by NHA officials. Smith claimed he was threatened by the demolition crew who said his personal belongings would be destroyed if he did not comply with their instructions that the structure be pulled down. Smith said he ran into the house and shouted that he was not leaving and they (NHA) would have to demolish the structure with him in it.
But the frustrated man said after reasoning with the demolition crew, he was left alone after he gave his word that he would break down the structure himself.

While Smith’s structure was left alone by the NHA crew, four other rebuilt shacks were reportedly pulled down. Jervon Abraham admitted that five persons whose homes were demolished almost two weeks ago, attempted to rebuild on State lands at Union Hall in San Fernando. He denied the NHA crew approached the squatters in any aggressive manner. Abraham said NHA received information that persons were rebuilding on State lands at Union Hall and around 8 am, an official from NHA’s South Property Management Division, investigated the report which was found to be true.  Abraham said the five persons who were rebuilding wooden structures on the land were asked to pull down the structures, which they did. He also said there were no tractors, no large demolition crews and no heavy police presence. Abraham concluded by stating that NHA remained adamant that eviction letters were sent to the squatters advising them that they had no permission to reside on the land and to leave lands or face the necessary consequences.