Dear Editor,
The expected clash was not long in coming as squatters in a renewed feeding frenzy sought to beat the upcoming deadline for the public meeting to decide the fate of the foreshore lands in Nos 76-68 Villages on the Corentnye, Region Six. The squatter/businessman/councilor at the head of the squatter movement was none too pleased at the sight of residents in open confrontation with squatters. Another councillor, in support of residents, whose family’s land is also under siege and portions of which are already under squatter control, urged residents to fence the land and prevent further squatting.
The latest incident was an on-and-off hide and seek for several days, lasting from Friday, January 25, 2013, to Monday, January 28, 2013. One squatter appears to have been particularly troubling. Claiming to be from No 52 Village, he was terribly offended at the fact that while there had been several squatters of a different ethnicity some of whom, in fact, had buildings erected in the area, he was being driven out. This he loudly complained was neither right nor fair. And then, of course, the racial slurs followed − from both sides. In the end the residents by their sheer numbers prevailed, while the squatter threatened to take his matter to the NDC. As he walked away he loudly and angrily proclaimed that he was informed by the NDC that he could occupy a portion of land in the Nos 67-68 foreshore while his application was being processed.
The latter claim emerged the previous week when the NDC with the squatter/businessman/councillor at the head of a delegation visited the area with applications from the Ministry of Housing to determine how many persons wanted house lots in the area. It did not take long for this to be translated into a simple message: the land was for the taking, now under the supervision of NDC. Expectedly, the number of applicants mushroomed into several dozen.
Despite the fact that we have written twice on the matter and have drawn attention to the encouragement it gives to squatters by the refusal of the Sea Defence Board and its subject Minister, Public Works, to assert their authority and prevent further squatting, they continue to turn a blind eye to the issue. Their message could not have been any clearer to the community: squatting pays, encouraged and protected from the highest level.
The only immediate losers appear to be the few hardy souls left as PPP supporters in the community. As the discussion petered out after the departure of the squatter on Monday morning two of the party faithful at edge of the gathering quietly slinked away muttering to themselves − “shameful, disgusting, we party can’t do this to we.”
Yours faithfully,
Rishee Thakur
