Claver College Extension Eviction Notice to be Settled in Court

Attorney Norman Rodriguez is also representing the Board of the Claver College Extension in Punta Gorda in a lawsuit brought against the church. According to Rodriguez, the Saint Peter Claver Parish issued a notice of eviction to the institution for the end of June 2020. Due to quick legal action, a stay has been secured on the eviction, but a date has not been set for the civil matter to be heard. But who had the legal authority to the property and is it a case of ‘land claim house’ that will be settled before the court? Rodriguez shared what he could have at this time.

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Ashton Vanegas

“Claver College Extension was given one year to vacate the building, Sam Daniels building, which was built in 2002 to house Claver College Extension. The notice was given by Saint Peter Claver College for them to vacate and that if they did not vacate by the thirtieth of June, the Claver Parish would take possession of the building and whatever possessions in there that belong to the extension. And that on the first of July they would break down some other board [wooden] building because they would use the Sam Daniels’ building to house their students. They came to us, I am one of the attorneys representing them, we made an application in the court for certain procedures and that temporarily stayed the taking possession of the building. But remember that the building was built almost twenty years ago for the sole purposes of housing Claver College Extension even though it is on the property of the parish.  We are hopeful that when the application comes up for hearing, that they will be successful and that they will be able to stay there as long as they wish to.”

Norman Rodriguez

Duane Moody

“So what is happening now because schools are to reopen on August tenth? Does the extension then go back to…”

Norman Rodriguez

“Oh yeah. They have been functioning. Their only fear is that they would wake up on the first of July and that they would not be able to enter the building because if the parish had taken control, led by the priest himself—they call him Father Ruhl. If they had taken possession of that then they would have nowhere to do their evening adult education programme. But that has been resolved temporarily and we are hopeful that it will be resolved permanently; they will be able to remain there and continue with their school.”