NHA destroys rebuilt shacks

WHILE a San Fernando judge heard a lawsuit brought by Union Hall, San Fernando squatters against the demolition of their homes by the National Housing Authority (NHA)  an NHA demolition crew reportedly swooped down yesterday and destroyed several shacks which were rebuilt by the displaced squatters. The demolition took place while Justice Peter Jamadar was hearing an application for judicial review filed by 19 squatters whose homes were knocked down by NHA officials a week ago. The hearing took place at the San Fernando Civil Court.

Justice Jamadar, who seemed visibly concerned over the news of yesterday’s demolition, had no choice but to recall the judicial review application and allowed the squatters’ attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, to file an injunction against the NHA. Nineteen families who were left homeless after the demolition crew swooped down last week and who have since made the Union Hall Recreation Ground pavilion their temporary home, packed the First Civil Court for yesterday’s hearing.  During the proceedings, Maharaj referred Justice Jamadar to the squatters’ affidavit in which they stated that Prime Minister Patrick Manning, during a visit to the squatters in the aftermath of last week’s mass demolition, told them that evicting squatters was not the Government’s policy. Justice Jamadar, who commented that proper exercise of authority must be matched by truth and fairness, granted the squatters leave to seek judicial review.

However, as soon as he had made the order, a group of squatters walked into the courtroom and told instructing attorneys Garnet Mungalsingh and Sunil Gopaul-Gosine that NHA officials, accompanied by police from the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), were currently at Union Hall where an NHA demolition crew was breaking down several shacks which were rebuilt on the exact location of the earlier mass demolition. Maharaj immediately sought a request for the judge’s order for leave to be recalled and for an injunction to be included. Within an hour, attorneys Mungalsingh and Gopaul-Gosine visited the demolition site, drafted and filed an injunction with affidavit on behalf of Sherwyn Smith, his wife Kathy-Ann Joefield and their three-month-old daughter Sherena Smith.

Smith (Sherwyn) stated that he is one of the applicants named in the judicial review proceedings. He stated that after demolition of his shack, he rebuilt a ten-by-ten structure in order to provide his family with shelter. Smith stated his wife and daughter were awakened from sleep when a demolition crew, supervised by armed GEB policemen, knocked down his front door yesterday morning. They demolished the shack and knocked down three others, he stated. Justice Jamadar granted Smith an interim injunction against the NHA, its servants and agents from interfering with the applicant’s possession of lands at Union Hall. The judge fixed Friday as a date for a status hearing of the case.