A new type of squatter has emerged in Trinidad and Tobago in recent times. They are known as squat lords, who squat on lands for financial gain and not because of economic hardship.

While the overall numbers of squatters has decreased in recent years, there remain certain squatter hot spots in TT where some people have attempted to establish themselves as 'squat lords.'

These issues were raised at a virtual meeting between members of the Parliament's Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities Committee, the Land Settlement Agency and the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday.

Squatters are people who settle on property without right or title or payment of rent or on public land to gain a title to that land.

Committee chairman, Independent Senator Dr Varma Deyalsingh, observed there were many reasons why people squat. Those included poverty, unemployment and eviction from their former homes.

But Deyalsingh said there were some people who were land grabbers who squatted 'to get a piece of the action.'

Referring to some newspaper reports which claimed an increase in squatting during the covid19 pandemic, Deyalsingh asked LSA officials whether 2021 was 'the year of the squatter.'

LSA CEO Hazar Hosein said from 2018 to April, the number of reported cases of squatting had dropped to just under 1,200. There is no evidence to suggest a squatter explosion during the pandemic. Hosein listed 74, 293 and 157 cases of new squatting for 2020, 2021 and 2022 (so far) respectively.

In contrast, the LSA recorded over 5,000 new squatting cases from 2013 to 2018.

Hosein said, 'There has been a significant reduction in the number of reported cases of new squatting in the prior five years (2013-2018) and the present four years (2018-2022).' He attributed this decline to work done by the Commissioner of State Lands to discourage people from squatting, use of technology (such as drones and satellite imaging) to identify new squatter structures and collaboration with the police to stop new people from squatting.

Deyalsingh reiterated his concern about people with ulterior motives who were squatting.

'There are certain squatters who may have gone to gone into areas to protest (about the Cumuto-Manzanilla) highway. Some think if they go there, they will be paid to move.'

He said, 'Some squatters may be masquerading as farmers by cultivating short-term crops.'

Deyalsingh wondered whether Venezuelan migrants were engaged in this alleged practice and creating 'a Wild, Wild, West situation.'

Hosein replied, 'There are certain hotspot areas in the country where we have a rush of persons going to squat.'

Sangre Grande and Valencia, especially where the Cumuto-Manzanilla Highway is being built, is one such area.

He said, 'We have a term that we use: squat lords. A lot of these persons who are rushing into areas, are rushing for commercial reasons rather than economic reasons.'

Deyalsingh replied, 'So definitely there has been a squatter invasion in certain areas like Sangre Grande, soo