PM admits sympathy for squatters but says they're not above the law

EVICTED squatters have the sympathy of the Government, but the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet say the law is sacrosanct where squatting is concerned and must be adhered to.

The Prime Minister said squatters who were evicted from their illegal occupation of state lands and their homes at Ramjattan Trace, La Horquetta demolished on February 6, were forewarned, but they refused to co-operate, resulting in their forcible removal.

The sentiments were echoed by Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, who said some of those affected by the removal had recently established themselves in the area.

Saying there had been an explosion of squatters, she said since 2022, the authorities had been policing the area and found unoccupied state lands had made “squatter lords” of some ambitious entrepreneurs, who illegally "sold" the land to desperate people seeking a home.

La Horquetta/Talparo MP Foster Cummings, who was not at his constituency office when affected constituents visited seeking redress, defended his absence, saying he was in a Cabinet meeting at the time.

He said he was willing to meet with representatives of the squatting community at an appointed time, but underscored that the law must and would be upheld.

The three spoke to the media after a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open City Heights Apartment complex, San Fernando, on February 7.

Fielding questions from the media, Rowley responded to complaints that the La Horquetta demolitions were inhumane.

He said his information was the area, identified as belonging to a state agency and earmarked for an organised project, was illegally occupied.

“That is something that is very sensitive. We are all concerned about being humane, but we also have to be concerned about operating in a lawful manner, "he said.

“My information, when I enquired, was that they were given advice not to do it. Given advice when they should leave, given an opportunity to leave in a decent and humane way – and persons have taken the position not to co-operate.

“You can't occupy land (illegally) and then decide that you are going to fight to hold on to it. That is the first problem that we have.”

He said while he was aware there were people living in what were known as "squatter communities," the Ministry of Housing had programmes to assist people in those circumstances.

“But when it gets to a situation where we are trying to organise the removal of persons who have occupied lands improperly, then it becomes a complex issue, and it's not just about being humane.”

Cummings, Youth Development and National Service Minister, in whose constituency the squatters clashed with police officers when the Commissioner of State Lands had them removed, said he empathised, but Trinidad and Tobago was governed by the law, which must be observed.

“The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is in the process of procuring low-cost housing for citizens of TT who are very deserving.

“I am told that those lands are state lands, and that action is being taken by the Commissioner of State Lands to evict illegal squatters who do not have tenancy to the site to construct much-needed housing.

“I empathise with all those families who may have found themselves in difficulties, but as citizens, we have to understand there is the law and we must obey the law.

“I will take the time, when it becomes available, when the residents who wish to meet with me will have the opportunity.
"But understand the point: as a country, we have to be law-abiding.”

Cummings said it was not within his remit to say whether those evicted would get priority to the low-cost housing planned for the area, as that rested with the HDC and Housing Ministry.

Robinson-Regis said a few of the occupants had applications pending in the HDC system and once they qualified, it would process their applications.

From a cursory glance, she said most would qualify for rentals, but did not commit to giving them priority, as there were others in the system with similar applications.

“Some of those people moved there very recently. That means they did have somewhere else where they lived previously, and saw an empty location and they decided to come there and conduct an illegal act.

“We have to protect state assets.”

Explaining that the HDC did not yet own the land, she said, “But once we see people going on state land, it is the state's responsibility to move them off the land.

“We have seen an explosion of squatting, and even people who decide they can sell the state land – what we call squatter lords – that don't own the land but are selling state land to people.

"That is unfair, because people who buy such lands cannot get title under those circumstances. and they will still be removed.

“What we are trying to do is make sure people do not continue to squat on state land.”

She denied the area was singled out for demolition, saying, "We have been moving squatters on a consistent basis. It is just that this one became known to the media.

“They have been occupying the forest reserves, they have been occupying areas for quarrying, and they have been creating a situation that is untenable.”