Shacks now ‘blossom’ at Thompson Gardens

THE EDITOR: How easy it is to acquire land in lovely Trinidad, just start squatting. After a couple of years or so the National Housing Authority (NHA) ‘cannot’ demolish your shack. The loving Government will provide for you. Since the removal from Union Hall and later relocation of persons at Thompson Gardens, it is amazing to see how fast a shack can be constructed, almost overnight it seems. Slash and burn a spot and put up a ten by ten. The surrounding areas of Thompson Gardens are almost “squatted out” with an overnight development of shacks.

As the vehicles of the NHA pass in and out going their way no one seems to be noticing these illegal structures most of which are unoccupied. Mind you, in the past week some have had the luxury of pipe-borne water even the unoccupied ones I wonder at what cost. I guess the NHA will wait maybe a little five years or so before they notice this. Then they may decide to give notice and demolish, then relocate the squatters. It seems easy enough a method to acquiring land, while some of us continue to work hard to acquire property and pay for our utilities and taxes.

C MILLINGTON
San Fernando