Baksh, Rowley debate Union Hall

San Fernando West MP, Sadiq Baksh, sounded a concilliatory note as he championed the cause of squatters at Union Hall, San Fernando, whose houses were recently de-molished by the Land Set-tlement Agency (LSA). This came in his motion on the adjournment of the Senate on Tuesday. “After the destruction of 40 homes, we found a very sympathetic Gov-ernment,” he declared. Praising Minister of Community Develop-ment, Joan Yuille-Williams, for helping the displaced residents with accommodation, bedding and food, Baksh said: “Because of her intervention they got something to eat and somewhere to sleep.” 

Querrying whether the demolition had received the approval of Minister of Housing, Dr Keith Rowley, Baksh remar-ked: “The authority (Land Settlement Agency) that broke those houses is an autonomous body. It can break houses without the knowledge of the Minis-ter, but it’s setting a trend we would not like to allow happen.” Noting the country had 251 other squatting settlements, he pleaded for the State to reassure it would not break those houses. Baksh suggested the demolition was done by people taken from the street who ended up stealing residents’ be-longings. This claim was flatly denied by Minister of Housing, Dr Keith Rowley. “It’s quite wrong to accuse the NHA of picking up pipers to terrorise people. That is not necessary, that is not required, and that is not true.”

Rowley denied the demolition was a barbaric act. “I have pictures showing residents taking apart their own units or removing valuables.” He remarked that as of  April 24 many of the demolished houses were not under occupation, but were in his view just part of a land grab. “The majority of units were not occupied, but were either under construction or unoccupied. All this talk of the destruction of people’s food and medicine is overstated.” Some 32 houses were demolished, he said, while some 17 houses were spared because their owners had met with the NHA in July 2001.