Squatters who have taken advantage of the government's generous pledge to protect the landless will be evicted forcefully if they don't quit voluntarily.
That's the word from Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, who told the Trinidad Guardian Tuesday he would ask for soldiers and police to remove squatters who fail to respond to eviction notices.
Moonilal's move is not aimed at people who have been on State lands for several years but at "a few people are up to lawlessness."
He said, “They are testing the resolve of the new Government but we intend to implement the law,” he told the paper.
Moonilal said he has met with the National Security Minister John Sandy and Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath to deal with the issue.
He denied that the government is "soft" on the issue of illegal land occupiers, stating that he wants to be sure that when the government acts, it is do so in accordance with the law.
He said the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) does not have the authority to demolish houses, which is why he is seeking help from law enforcement agencies.
While he spoke of action against the "new" squatters he also told the paper that the government is seeking to urgently amend the laws to regularise the position of long-standing squatters.
Moonilal explained that some people have taken advantage of the humane approach to the problem. "What is astonishing is that some people held that up as a licence for lawlessness, to go on state lands with four ply boards and two-by-four pieces of wood and erect structures,” he added.
He said the government will fulfil a promise to regularise squatters who have been occupying lands since January 1, 1998.
He denounced by sudden land grab state as "very suspicious" adding that "they are so organised. They come in groups, in small maxi taxis and cars, and help each other to erect these illegal structures,” Moonilal said.
1 comment:
Dr Moonilal needs to be congratulated on the way he has transited into office and for the poise and calm which he has displayed thus far. It should be noted that Dr Moonilal is charged with a "pressure cooker" ministry, and he is not in any way displaying any signs that he is suffering from "newness of office" as is Mr warner, who has raised expectations about alleviating traffic congestion and has ended dashing those hopes within one week; because he is not on the job.
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