Five detained for illegal occupation of HDC apartments

Four men and a woman in their early 20s and 30s, who were previously arrested and charged for illegally occupying HDC apartments earlier this month, were re-arrested early yesterday during a massive police/army exercise in Port of Spain and Beetham Estate.

Two men identified by police as suspected gang leaders were among 20 people detained.

On November 8, police and soldiers went to several HDC apartments at Clifton Hill, East Port of Spain, where they broke the locks of 14 apartments and detained 15 people.

Eight women were among those detained.

The police sought directions from the office of the DPP and were instructed to charge the 15 with being found in a building.

After the arrests, HDC security staff told police some of those arrested and charged had returned to the apartments. This prompted yesterday’s police exercise, which was co-ordinated by ACPs Irwin Hackshaw and Radcliffe Boxhill.

It was led by head of the Port of Spain CID acting Snr Supt Ajith Persad and included Supt Raul Hercules, ASPs Brandon John, Rawle Ramdeo, PC Kerron Lewis and others.

At about 4 am yesterday, the team returned to Clifton Hill, where they broke the locks of five apartments and detained five people who were illegally occupying them. The suspects were taken to the Port of Spain CID, where they were being questioned up until late yesterday.

Hackshaw said yesterday, “The arrest proves the point that some people have no respect for the law and will do desperate things such as seizing unoccupied apartments and occupying those premises.”

He issued a stern warning that the police will be relentless in their efforts to rid HDC homes and apartments of people who should not be occupying them.

Yesterday, Minister of Housing Randall Mitchell confirmed there is a widespread problem of illegal occupation of HDC apartments and units, but said the numbers have decreased significantly since 2015.

He said he didn’t know some of those previously evicted had returned to Clifton Hill, but he was pleased to know the police had responded.

“I was aware of the first time when residents complained about the squatters at Clifton Hill and the nuisance they were creating and using the apartments, and I am aware the managing director made a complaint to the police, and the police would have acted on the complaint.”