A MOVE by Estate Management Business and Development Company (EMBDC) to claim Caroni 1975 Limited lands from squatters of Jackson Trace, Woodland, has created bacchanal in the quiet village.

The squatters said they would like to know what is the latest development with regards to their plight.

They said H. Ramlal, the person who represents them, has not been disseminating information on a timely basis.

Since the revamping of Caroni 1975 Limited, EMBDC has been given responsibility for all the company’s lands.

EMBDC has served three relocation notices to the squatters over the past three months and is in the process of developing the land for residential use for ex-Caroni workers.

Some of the squatters are ex-Caroni workers while some are not.

Vena Harripersad said the squatters would certainly like to know what is happening, since the situation is affecting them badly.

“Ramlal has been holding private meetings and is not telling us what transpired,” Harripersad said.

But Ramlal said while he cannot tell his fellow squatters everything, he was very close to reaching a settlement on their behalf.

Harripersad’s husband, Ramesh Harripersad, was a former Caroni worker.

She said squatters of the area are not comfortable.

“There is a feeling of hopelessness here; we have lost our spirit and zeal.

Innovative Security visits one of the squatters.

 

The EMBDC notice.

A group of squatters.

Work already started in the area.

“We cannot eat and sleep properly, but no one is telling us what is happening,” Harripersad told TnT Mirror.

Squatting, incidentally, is illegal.

Stacy Sankar, who claims to be squatting on the land for the past 14 years, said she does not have anywhere to go.

Her husband was not a Caroni employee.

The mother of one said the situation becomes a big problem when the young children are asking questions.

“They asking us when the equipment coming to break down our houses.

“We don’t know what to tell the children,” Sankar related.

Two Shiva Boys College students also expressed their concerns.

The young students told Mirror that they were not able to study well for their Easter term test because of the threat looming over their heads.

“We don’t know when they will come to break down our house.

“How am I to study and worry at one time?” one student questioned.

Ex-Caroni worker, Nazim Mohammed said he was not moving.

“I don’t have any intention of going anywhere. If they break down my house I would build it back and continue to live right here.

“They give me VSEP and now they came and destroyed my means of a livelihood.

“They pushed down my big bearing fruit trees; peas, cassava and sorrel were also damaged and all the evidence was burnt,” Mohammed claimed.

Mohammed said he gardens to help ease the situation.

The former Caroni worker said he was promised two acres of agricultural land and a lot of residential land when he took VSEP.

“I have not gotten any land yet; I am only hearing talks,” Mohammed related.

The site was proposed for the Woodland Housing Development under the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee of the Ministry of Housing and Settlement years ago.