One day after their Cane View, Mocha homes were bulldozed by the Government amid a fierce confrontation with the police, the affected residents lashed out at the PPP Civic Administration today over the violent removal, which has left some seven families homeless.

Shevon Eastman, who was arrested as she attempted to safeguard her home on Thursday, told News Source that President Irfaan Ali and his Administration should hold their heads in shame over the treatment meted to the people of Cane View.   

“Shame on my President! Shame on you! You diss me, and you know why I see it as a diss from day one, we wrote letters and we signed our names and we sent it to different Ministries and they never reached out to us. We sent it to the President’s office and they never reached out to us,” Ms Eastman told News Source.

The business woman, whose house and business establishment were reduced to rubble, said she is still in shock.

She explained that the decision to demolish the seven remaining houses along the stretch came at a time when residents were still in negotiation with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

It was explained that while CH&PA published notices in the press, the affected residents were never served with written notices.

“Yes, you are the Government. We are not fighting you. We engaged these people many times. We spoke to Mr Charles, we spoke to Aaron, we spoke to this person, we made appointment to see the CEO, we made appointment to see the Minister. It was a back-and-forth situation we went on…And the Government could have do it in a better manner, we are humans, we are not the pig that was in the mud yesterday because you know how I see it? They treat me like a pig. I see it as gross disrespect. I see it as gross disrespect,” Ms Eastman said.

Eastman and her brother, who was also arrested, were released from the Providence Police Station at around 19:00hrs on Thursday. With their homes demolished, they were forced to seek refuge at family and friends. Along with other displaced persons, she returned to the area today that she once called home.

Some of the families have also disputed reports that they have agreed to any compensation package with the Government.

When News Source returned to the Cane View today, residents were combing through the rubble to see what could be salvaged.

Former Minister under the coalition government, Simona Broomes, visited the location and spoke with the now homeless residents. Ms Broomes said the actions of Government were unconscionable.

“To have the police destroy your home, your business, bruk up your clothes, bruk up your stoves, bruk up every single thing, that is oppression, that is wicked. And at the same time, this is not squatting land, this is ancestral land, this is Mocha Arcadia,” Ms Broomes said.

The former Government Minister said there is no justification for the treatment meted out to the residents, and the Government must be held responsible.

The Government has defended its decision and has said that the residents were in the way of development.

Related posts:

Displaced Mocha squatters moving to the Court over demolition of homes Flue-Bess hammers Government on high inflation and destruction of Mocha, Cane view houses Ministry of Home Affairs fires Mocha squatter as data entry clerk for protesting to keep her home Mocha squatters want consultation before demolition of their homes