By Readawne Henery
Police yesterday fired pellets and tear gas in a bid to remove squatters in the vicinity of Success, East Coast Demerara who have overrun lands belonging to the sugar corporation, GuySuCo.
According to a police statement, they resorted to this action after NICIL/GuySuCo officials visited the Success Squatting Area to speak with squatters there who were said to be “aggressive” and “hostile”.
The report further said that the squatters have illegally occupied lands owned by NICIL who over the past months sought to have squatters removed peacefully.
“During this engagement persons became aggressive and hostile towards the officials and the police ranks and began throwing a bombardment of missiles at them,” the police release said.
Last evening when Stabroek News visited the area, persons were reluctant to speak with the media. Scores of angry persons were seen standing in protest on the other side of a canal after which they began hurling bottles across the canal at media representatives.
However, several persons came forward to speak about the incident that occurred.
Ziggy Daphness shared that he moved with his parents and sister to live in the area a month ago. According to the man, approximately two thousand persons have settled in the squatting area which begins at Success and runs as far back as Vryheid’s Lust. The man said that he had submitted an application for land since the year 2015 and though he was promised that he would be called by the previous Minister of Housing, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood, he never received a feedback.
He explained that during a visit by the minister to ‘A’ Field Sophia, he had related his interest in having ownership of “the bushiest piece of land” to which the Minister replied by informing him that they were house lots available in Beterver-wagting, East Coast Demerara, while taking his interview paper and promising to call him.
She never did, he said.
Daphness explained that an excavator was brought in by NICIL which broke the access bridge leading into the community. A number of vehicles could be seen lining both sides of the canal. The destruction of the bridge which was said to have been built by the squatters themselves prevented drivers from getting in or out of the village.
And according to the man, he believes that more than ten persons were taken to the hospital as a result of the police shooting.
“Them police didn’t come and tell anybody to get out. Just the head of NICIL come and made a notice today. The police them come and didn’t even identify themselves. They just come, move the bridge and then start to shoot up people and use tear gas. Ms. Rosalind [a nearby resident], they got she in BV lockdown. All she do was take out she phone and start videoing and they grab she. They lock up a rasta man too. He ain’t even own a land in here. He does just come through selling he water and he juice and they [police] hold on on the man and shie he in the van,” recounted the man.
Jermaine Ross, another resident of Success squatting area, stated that it was a peaceful protest that turned ugly after police officers began using force.
The resident who had been residing in the area for approximately three months, related that families were occupying the area, as a final alternative after encountering difficulties in life.
To explain his point, he told this newspaper that another family had taken up occupancy in the area after they were thrown out from their previous home.
The frustrated residents, some of whom had applied for house lots, stated that the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils had recently given documents to support claims of ownership made by some of the residents on a section of the cane field nearby, but stated that the area they were occupying at the time was a separate section.
Ross said, within the time he has been residing there, he has fenced his lot and keeps it tidy.
He added that the area has been in existence since 2015, but due to the pressures brought on by the pandemic, factors such as pay cuts, loss of jobs, and failure to pay rent, had pushed persons to take up residence in the area.
Ross stated that the bridge that was torn down by police ranks, was built with monies pooled by the Success squatting area residents.
The frustrated man noted that his application in housing was there since the year 2015, and added that he is very persistent with voicing his concerns about receiving his land.
A young woman who asked to remain anonymous explained the ordeal faced. “Police block the bridge before they break down the bridge. They were standing with big guns,” she said. She and her family moved to squat in the area some four months ago.
“I don’t know if they get orders from higher authority or what but all I know when we was coming out, I saw them breaking the bridge. We had a hard time getting out because they break the bridge. We had to go till around to Sophia and the residents there didn’t even want us to cross over their bridge there via our car. They take the bridge that they had and move out the woods them. We took an average of three hours trying to get out to the main road”, the woman said.
Speaking of the tear gas, she said, “It catch me. I could have hardly breathe. I run back to the car and take water from the car and sprinkle it on my nose and my face. I feel like I would blackout. There were children in the midst also. If you see how their eyes and nose get. They had to rush them to the hospital.”
A video viewed by this newspaper which was captured by another squatter in the area showed police surrounded by a crowd of persons while the bridge was being taken apart. A few seconds later, shots rang out and persons scattered. Tear gas was also dispersed and children could be heard screaming among the adults while they all ran for cover.
“We didn’t do these police anything and just like that they start shooting,” the woman said.
When asked why they squatted in the first place, she said that her family like many others were unable to come up with their rent and utility bills especially during the pandemic. She further stated that they have yet to hear from government officials and would like to know where they are expected to go if they are moved.
Many persons voiced that they needed their own house lots as they don’t like the idea of squatting.
The woman noted that they all planned to stay put until a government official visits. While they protested, police on the other side of the canal brandished their weapons. Canisters of tear gas hung from the front of their bullet proof vests.
At minutes to eight last night, Region Four Chairman, Daniel Seeram visited the area and spoke with squatters. A young boy was brought to the front of the crowd to Seeram and pellets were pointed out in his hands and face.
A woman, another squatter, showed this newspaper the back of her thigh where pellets could be seen still stuck inside the skin.
Several persons in speaking with the chairman shared with him, the reasons which led to them deciding to squat. Seeram assured them that he would get to the bottom of the incident and promised to return today at 10am. He further said that having watched four separate videos, he did not see the reason for the police having to resort to violence.
