by Svetlana Marshall

The Ministry of Housing with backing from the Riot Squad of the Guyana Police Force moved back into the Mocha Arcadia community today in another effort to demolish the remaining houses as the Government moves ahead with its plans to construct a major roadway nearby.

Scores of residents protested the move, leading to arrests and clashes with the Police today.

The Government had served several notices for the persons who were living and farming on its reserve in the area to move. While some persons accepted the Government’s offer of a free house and land in another area, some others who have been living in the area for more than 30 years have been holding out.

The situation became tense this midday when the riot Police were blocked from entering the area. The Police officers eventually pushed their way through a human barrier that was being formed on a bridge and that resulted in them being pelted with bricks and molotov cocktails.

Hours before the riot squad swarmed Cane View, which is the unregulated community near Mocha, the Government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), said while 28 families have relocated to nearby residential areas and have rebuilt new homes through government compensation, seven individuals remain non-compliant and that has stalled the development of the Eccles to Great Diamond Highway.

But the remaining residents of Cane View were adamant today that the proposed compensation was inadequate.

Today, as they kept watch, the officials from the Central Housing and Planning Authority together with the police swarmed the area, and demolished one building at a time with the use of a bucket loader.

As the housing personnel together with the police attempted to break down the first two houses, one of which housed a business, a group of male ranks were captured on camera jostling a businesswoman identified as Shevon. The woman who claimed to be pregnant was thrown to the ground, and was subsequently arrested by two female officers.

Meanwhile, as the first wooden structure collapsed, a male occupant was found among the debris, and he too was arrested. Another woman stood inside her house in defiance but was forcefully removed.

With the aid of the bucket loader the other houses along the stretch were flattened even as residents attempted to remove their valuables.

The authorities also demolished all of the wooden bridges linking Cane View to Mocha.

Before the fierce confrontation, the remaining residents of Cane View told News Source that the compensation was inadequate.

Roxanne Allen, who has been living in the area for 31 years, had vowed not to remove. She explained that she along with her husband developed the area and were prepared to deal with the challenges that came with the road development.

“For me, what they should have done was come to we and say, we passing a main road at the back of yall, yall would have to pay ‘x’ amount of money for this land because we wouldn’t be affecting the road and the road would not be affecting us,” the mother of eight said.

The cattle farmer said Government’s proposal of $5.5M was disrespectful.

“I think it is disrespectful for come and tell me today that you are giving me $5.5M for me to move off of this land to put somebody else to inherit the sweet.”

Another resident Candacie Williams, who has been living in the area for 31 years along with her five siblings, said her family was offered $7.2M. Williams and her siblings instead proposed that they be paid $100 million for their property.

Joyann Ellis, a resident for 26 years, said the compensation was extremely low.

“I see they publish that they offer me $8.6M, but $8.6M cannot compensate me for living there so long, develop this place and my son has a foundation done building and there is no compensation for that. They compensated other residents but they said they don’t have no compensation for him. What is that I am developing, moving to go in a turn key house, two bedroom turnkey house, which I live in a three bedroom house,” she explained.

The woman, who was concerned for her cattle and crops, said the Government promised to provide farmlands along the Linden Soesdyke Highway. She said while she was opened to have further discussions on that promise, the area should be developed first since farming is their current livelihood.

Related posts:

Displaced Mocha squatters moving to the Court over demolition of homes “Ali, you diss me” – Displaced Mocha resident said her efforts to engage government before demolition were shunned Norton accuses Government of discrimination and dishonesty in grading down of Mocha houses near new highway construction Mocha squatters want consultation before demolition of their homes