CHAIRMAN of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Noel Garcia has confirmed that the remaining, legal tenants of apartments at Independence Square, Port of Spain, have been given a one-week extension to finalise arrangements for their relocation. But he also sought to make it clear that no legal occupants were evicted from these buildings over the weekend.
On Saturday morning, HDC workers – accompanied by police – removed the belongings of some tenants and even removed doors and windows from some of the apartments as insults were hurled at them.
The eviction stems from the HDC's plan to "revitalise" East Port of Spain which was initially announced in 2021, which includes the demolition and rebuilding of these apartments.
In a release, the HDC had said it held "a series of progressive, open consultations" with the tenants and stakeholders "to determine the most feasible way to advance the revitalisation project in the best interest of all parties.
"Being cognisant that: (I) The residents do not have title to the housing units, (II) the residents do not have an agreement to remain in occupation of the housing unit and (III) the HDC was not required in law to re-locate the residents to facilitate the demolition, the HDC considered it essential to communicate its decision to relocate all residents and alleviate any concerns they may have about being evicted, in circumstances where they had no alternative housing option."
It added that alternative housing has been identified for residents of each apartment set for demolition, and that there are only five tenants left to be relocated.
But it said there are also people who have been occupying apartments there illegally.
"The HDC will also act responsibly and within the parameters of the law to obtain vacant possession of the illegally occupied units to advance the demolition and restoration works," the release said.
When Newsday visited the apartment complex on Monday morning, there were several heaps of clothing and household items just outside the apartments, many of which had no windows.
Tenant Colleen Mendoza told Newsday she paid rent as recently as Friday and was upset that the HDC evicted her just one day later.
She said while her daughter has been relocated, she has not.
"My brother and my sister live here (too). My sister have three children and three grandchildren, and they're only giving my brother a place (to stay). That could be right?"
Mendoza said she moved all of her belongings back inside of the apartment she occupied.
She said there are about five other people who still occupy apartments there but the others were not there at the time of Newsday's visit.
But Garcia told Newsday that no legal tenants were evicted on Saturday – "only squatters and people who had some kind of pumpkin vine relationship (with legal tenants)."
He also said he could not understand "what all the noise is about.
"These are old units that need to be demolis
