Illegal dwellers seek details on housing plans

Squatters in Rock Hall, St Philip say they are being left in the dark about a plan to relocate them, which appears to be at a relatively advanced stage.

During a visit to the community east of the main runway of the Grantley Adams International Airport, the consensus was that only a few residents were contacted about moving into new homes. Most others were uncertain about their status.

It also appears that while many are eager to move into new accommodations, others, who have already invested significant amounts of time and money are still reluctant to engage government on the process.

Instead, they are demanding further details about the terms and conditions of the proposed move.
Three weeks ago, workers from the National Housing Corporation (NHC) began construction on at least five spanking new wooden houses at Parish Land, St Philip.

When Barbados TODAY visited the area on Thursday, scores of workmen were busy on the job at the northern end of the development while on the southern side, wells were being dug and preliminary work for the foundations of the new houses was underway.

Recent reports suggest that 16 houses will be built in that area and another six at Leadvale, St Philip. The structures are to start to facilitate the squatters’ move from more than 300 illegal houses into 106 government built houses, for which they will have to pay.

But some of the longtime squatters, including resident of 15 years, Jewel Johnson, is concerned about the fact that up to now, no package had been presented to her family, outlining the terms and conditions of the proposed move.

“I don’t feel happy. I am not thrilled, because they haven’t shown us a package.

Nobody came to me and I haven’t even got a notice on this property for the 15 years I was here,” Johnson told Barbados TODAY.

“It is okay to have a nice pretty space and solar panels to sell back electricity to the government… but I like green living, being resourceful with what we have, because we don’t have a lot of money to buy food from the supermarket,” she added.

The 50-year-old farmer and craftswoman explained that she has been living off the land at Rock Hall for over a decade. Many other small businesses that specialise in food, dressmaking and hardware retail would also be placed at risk, she noted.

“My personal concern is the trees around here that I have planted to provide food over the 15 years I was here. If we have to move, we have to move, but I don’t want to be placed in an environment where I can’t plant food anymore, because it would be like setting us back in life,” Johnson explained.

“Part of us staying here for 15 years was also about providing a stable environment for our children. So it will be difficult after 15 years to move my children. Mentally, we are trying to prepare to do things in life that we had already passed,” she further contended.

Another resident who has been living there since 2016 with her child and mother, shared a different perspective. The young woman, who requested anonymity, explained that she was eager to find out exactly when her family was leaving and where they would be going.

“At this point I would like to know when. That is the biggest question. When will we be going somewhere, because out here we don’t have any [running] water.

We don’t have a lot of things and the way we get our facilities isn’t always fair. We just want our own thing,” the young mother explained.

She also responded to critics who say they are being rewarded for illegal activity. She however contended that many of those who settled there only did so after exhausting all other options. In her opinion, much of the opposition is the result of prejudice against CARICOM residents, many of whom had settled there.

“Where do they want us to go? On the streets? No, we have to live somewhere.
“It doesn’t matter where I go.

Barbados is Barbados. I could go to St Lucy. I ain’t bothered,” she added.
Others, who have been living there for longer periods presented positions on their occupation of the land.

“Many years ago, the Europeans came here and they invaded. They brought our ancestors here. We know that story, so we are the children that are left. I say we took back some of what was taken from us,” one resident told Barbados TODAY.

“If we had gone to the Government and said ‘we are in desperate need, they would’ve probably taken a couple years, put us in a [government] unit where you cannot breathe,” the resident added.

Repeated efforts to reach Minister of Housing and Lands William Duguid for a more detailed explanation of the housing plans were unsuccessful.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)