Villagers win first round; HDC suspends Spring Village project

Above: St. Augustine MP Vasant Bharath watch Spring Village farmers begin replanting their crops (Max Ottley photo)

Housing Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde announced Wednesday that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is suspending all work on its project in Spring Village to investigate reports that HDC contractors destroyed agricultural crops.

She made the statement when she met with more than 100 residents of the area at the HDC's offices, in Port of Spain.

Farmers complained to the minister that HDC bulldozers destroyed their crops in the area off Bassie Street Extension. They said the HDC claimed that it was conducting topographical studies. But the corporation has repeatedly denied that claim.

The minister said after discussions with HDC managing director Noel Garcia, it was agreed that the corporation would stop the work to investigate the level of farming in the area and residents' concerns that the area may not be suitable for housing because it was a flood prone "basin".

She noted that in a 2003 letter the area of 54 acres has been designated for squatter regularization and transferred from Caroni (1975) Ltd.

Villagers told the minister that prime agricultural land should not be used for housing and they also complained that authorities have been pushing them out from their homes during the regularization exercise.

But Garcia promised that no one would be displaced, adding that the HDC will find housing for everyone.

Gaynor Dick-Forde also spoke about development plans for the area. She said a five-acre recreational ground that villagers have asked for will be part of plans for the housing project. And she promised that government would take residents concerns into account in drawing up preliminary plans before any physical development occurs.

But St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath was not impressed. He called the minister's assurances "an attempt to bamboozle the residents."

One person from the village who is closely associated with the project wondered about the sincerity of the government in the matter.

She told hotlikepperradio.com if the HDC is really going to investigate to find a solution, how can the minister and the HDC still talk about development plans for the same agricultural area in dispute.

She added, "And it's shocking that they bulldoze people's crops, then you hear that they don't even have a plan. And to make matters worse they are now talking about consulting the villagers about a preliminary plans. So when they sent the bulldozers, they didn't even have a plan?"

The person, who did not want to be identified, said the minister and the HDC sound hollow in their "concerns" for the people and added that "they just want to spite the people."