Dispute prevents students from attending school

Yesterday, a pregnant Geeta Sambucharan, spokesperson for 11 stranded families told Newsday that one remaining neighbour has given them until weekend to stop using their concrete drain passing through her (neighbour) land to enter and leave their homes.

Sambucharan explained that the land on which they have constructed their humble homes is family-owned but bounded by other family members, private owners and State lands.

“Right now we are sandwiched in here and all we need now is a home over our heads,” said Sambucharan who said she is scared that when her time comes to deliver her baby she cannot get out.

“We are caged in on the land. We can’t get out. I don’t know why we are being treated this way.” When Newsday visited the area yesterday, new chain link fences and galvanize barriers were installed on property cutting off the access roads.

“My own family put up barriers that we can’t get out.” The houses which are built close to each other do not have running water or lights - the drainage is poor and stagnant water in the muddy drains has led to a mosquito infestation.

When rain falls the area turns into mud.

Sambucharan continued: “It have Zika out there and no one even coming in the back here to spray.” Two days ago a disabled couple moved out until the situation changes.

Sambucharan says all the families may have to follow suit.

They say many of the families live on welfare and they cannot afford a lawyer to seek their interest. Newsday spoke to one relative who blamed Sambucharan for their own problems.

“They had no right to build their houses in the middle and not sure how you going in or coming out,” the relative told Newsday.

“They had no plan.

We save our money and built a road to get to our homes. We don’t feel sorry for them because they are not nice people. We don’t have to let them pass on our land.”