While the Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD) said it is very concerned about the safety of Claxton Bay residents affected by a major landslip near the Coco Road Quarry, the affected residents think otherwise.

"EMBD does not have us at heart based on their actions. Quarrying is still happening," said Giles Garcia.

He and his family became homeless on September 15, 2021, when rapid land movement caused his home to slide and collapse down a hill with its contents inside. Several nearby houses are in danger of collapsing.

In July 2020, EMBD opened the sandpit quarry for business. Residents have blamed quarrying for the landslip.

On Wednesday, a statement from EMBD referred to "certain misleading" comments via media reports about the ongoing negotiations with the affected residents of Diamond Road in Claxton Bay.

In April, the statement said, EMBD considered the safety and well-being of the affected residents and advised them to relocate given the risks associated with the impending wet season.

EMBD said in recognising the distress that this situation has caused, offered to pay the residents the cost of alternative accommodation together with the costs of temporarily relocating for six months, while discussions could be held to find a permanent relocation solution for the residents.

"Regrettably, that offer of assistance, which was made based on advice from expert valuators, was not taken up by any of the residents. Nonetheless, the offer remains open for acceptance should any of the residents choose to avail themselves of it," the statement said.

"In May, EMBD was informed that the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services offered substantial assistance to the residents in the form of counselling support, rental assistance grant, household items grant, clothing assistance grant, and emergency food support."

It added that EMBD received information that, to date, all but one of the residents declined to accept the rental assistance grant.

"EMBD has also been separately engaged in the process of negotiations with attorneys for the residents to arrive at a timely and beneficial solution to the situation at hand. These good faith discussions are still ongoing and EMBD is awaiting further information from those attorneys to progress the discussions."

The EMBD said it had hoped to be much further along in the negotiations by now but it remained open to reaching an amicable resolution for the safety of the residents.

In response to the latest statement, Garcia accused the state entity of not negotiating in good faith.

"Their offer is unacceptable, and our lawyers are negotiating for a better one. Up to now, EMBD never give us a report of their findings on the soil testing in the area," Garcia said.

Garcia recalled that the letters EMBD gave to residents in April titled "urgent relocation" had no mention about paying them the cost of alternative accommodation together with the costs of