Squatting and poverty are obviously heading for a special place alongside crime on political platforms.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis expressed the government’s determination to stop “the squatter explosion,” despite squatter protests and opposition criticisms over the state's handling of squatters,
“We have seen an explosion of squatting and even people who have decided they can sell state lands. They are squat lords. They don’t own the land but they are selling it,” she said.
This squatting controversy was energised by news headlines such as “Mothers, children being put out,” “Squatters plead for mercy,” “Squatters upset as Cummings offers no help,” and “Young mother of four fears homelessness.”
While some called for “compassion,” many on social media supported the position of law and order.
Hear this from Dennis Harry: “Some people have no choice in life but to squat, d price of things.” And from Alexander Marcus King: “Demolish it as soon as it starts to build and lock them up because they are breaking the law.”
Another big job for incoming PM Stuart Young.
This complicated squatting matter involves the law, sociology, politics, psychology, crime and of course, economics. Each element needs special but coordinated treatment.
According to the law, squatting is illegal. Sociology because squatting involves poor people. Politics because squatters and their supporters have votes which each party needs.
Psychology because of early hardships which drive people into squatting dependency and an absence of the will for self-reliance.
Crime because squatting communities gradually become havens for illegal drugs, prostitution, delinquency and unemployment if the required safety and physical infrastructure are not properly put in place. Ask the police.
Economics because it costs a lot of taxpayers’ money for alternative housing and infrastructure.
Squatting recently erupted into a political controversy again from the demolition of 12 “illegally constructed houses” in Arima by the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) and the Commissioner of State Lands. One squatter threatened court action. The squatting debate got politically intensified when Mayaro MP Rushton Paray extensively criticised the government’s mismanagement of squatters.
Calling for “a pause” in the evictions, Paray proposed several remedial policy routes including “health and safety issues,” “economic empowerment of squatters” and “proactive action.”
Former UNC housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal warned that the evicted people “would be placed on the streets vulnerable to crime and at risk of further social challenges.”
Not taking this lightly, Minister Robinson-Regis’ full-page newspaper statement responded to Paray’s criticisms while explaining the method of allocating HDC houses and the extensive grants and subsidised housing programmes for poor people. She promised “500 houses” soon coming for displaced squatters – this, a few months before the elections.
Now this squatting issue is also connected t
