The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that an immediate order to stop the demolition of houses at Timehri should be issued and genuine consultation held with residents to regularize the area since persons have invested a lot into their homes.
In a press release issued yesterday the AFC said that it views with “increasing outrage” the manner in which persons’ homes are being demolished.
The release said that over 400 families have made their homes in the area over the last 40 years; struggling to remove thick vegetation and using up their entire life’s savings only to now be faced with the possibility of their homes and structures being demolished.
The work of all the residents was done “in the face of central Government officials from the inception to the present time,” the AFC noted, and must be considered as permission since the area was provided with lights and water.
In light of all this a demolition exercise commenced and eight houses have already been pulled down. The release said that the ninth house that was supposed to be pulled down was not touched because it belonged to the friend of the soldier (names supplied) who was driving the bulldozer.
It said the Lance Corporal started crying when he realized that the next house belonged to his friend. The AFC commended the driver for saying to his superior “Officer I cannot do it. Enough is enough. You might soon instruct me fuh bulldoze me own one too. No!”
After a recent meeting with families made homeless and threatened with homelessness, the AFC learnt that the whole community had been “demonized” after the incident of the missing airport lights. And further, the party said, there were insinuations coming from senior officials that the community had harboured ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’ and that prompted the start of the exercise.
The AFC also stated that from investigations carried out it was revealed that two security services ranks had stolen the runway lights and sold them to a well-known political activist.
AFC leaders have seen “frustration, defiance and anger” in the eyes of children and adults who stood by and watched their structures being pulled down, the release said.
It added that “it is frightening to contemplate what passions may be aroused from this uncaring, heartless action.”
Attempts by Stabroek News to obtain a comment from Works Minister Robeson Benn on the AFC release last evening proved futile.
The demolition exercise at Timehri started on September 12 but it was noted that only unoccupied structures had been demolished. Benn had told Stabroek News then that squatters in the area are near to one of the country’s top military facilities and are also on land that belongs to the most “sensitive transportation facility”- the airport. As such “those persons who are on airport land will have to move,” Benn said.
He stated that further removal will be done in a way that causes the least confusion and destruction to the affected persons.
Residents had complained then of not being given any notice that their structures would have been pulled down. And they had made clear their frustration that the authorities allowed development to get so far and now have ordered the clearing of the area.
