Arima man demands compensation

SHANE SUPERVILLE

More than ten years after Michael Norea, 59, was promised compensation for damaged crops at his La Horquetta home by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), he is still awaiting settlement.

He says all communication with the corporation has come to a grinding halt, despite repeated attempts to contact the company’s legal department.

Norea visited Newsday yesterday and said that in 2005 part of his coconut crop was destroyed by HDC contractors who were putting up housing settlements in the area. He said while the corporation promised to reimburse him for the damage, he has yet to receive any money or even communication with a representative.

“Its very frustrating right now. I lost a lot of money in crops that day and I still can’t even get a phone call back. The woman I spoke to at the time was called Afeisha Charles.

“She was supposedly an attorney with the HDC, but I stopped hearing from her after a while.

“It was really frustrating, because people are saying that she resigned from her position – so what’s the situation with my matter?”

Norea claims he was also the victim of bullyng tactics by the HDC to have him sell his land, and was forced off his property by armed guards hired by the corporation. He is calling for the relevant authorities to investigate and provide him with some update.

“Ive lived on that land for almost 40 years, even before development took place on that side. Right now I’m going from friend to friend seeking housing. At one point I was actually homeless. I just want to move on with my life.”