18 children removed from home

The home is the subject of a High Court matter and the lease for the building expired last year.

The building which housed the children is owned by Property Management and the compound is earmarked for the construction of a new health centre.

The homeless children whose parents are either in prison, rehab centres, or just cannot be found, were under the care of Spiritual Baptist Archbishop Barbara Burke.

Burke told Newsday she began accommodating the children at the home since 1995. However, when threats were made to evict her last year, she contacted her lawyers, and a court hearing has been scheduled for September 20.

Burke said she was surprised to learn that at about 1 pm, heavily armed police and soldiers swooped down on the home and ordered everyone out. The care-givers at the home were told to evacuate the premises and to prepare the children to be removed to another home.

Burke, a former Senator under the UNC government, who arrived on the scene shortly after, contacted lawyers at the firm Daltons and informed them about what was taking place.

The lawyers promised to take immediate steps to prevent the move.

Two truck driver parked nearby, packed belongings of the children to be taken to the Laventille home of Burke.

A clearly distressed Burke told Newsday that social services representatives were on hand to find out if the displaced children needed to be placed in homes.

“I told them that the children will be staying at my official residence, and I will continue to ensure that they stay together until the court matter is determined,” said Burke.

She said that the police and soldiers never provided any documents to order an eviction, and they were in fact in breach of a court order. Salina Ali, a mother of five who also lives at the home said she has nowhere to go and was promised an apartment in Maloney.

Late yesterday she was preparing to go to the Maloney apartment earmarked for her.

“Desperate times, means desperate action and I intend to keep all my children together,” she said.

Police officers on the scene said they were simply acting on instructions.

They said that they were told to ensure the children were removed as well as the belongings of Burke.