Three families left homeless in land dispute
In the wake of our recent natural disaster, it is not unusual to see piles of household goods arranged along the roadsides of affected communities. But while most debris on the curb is wet, broken and awaiting removal, this morning News Five visited a neighbourhood where the stuff on the street was dry, intact and its owners had nowhere to put it.
Stewart Krohn, Reporting
“They managed to survive the wind and water of Hurricane Keith, but in the end it was an order of the Supreme Court that has them out them out on the street. Three families who occupy a lot on Top-Na-Chick Street in Ladyville have joined the ranks of the homeless. The reason, says Elia Bradley Euceda, is that the lot she has leased and built on was subsequently sold by government to someone else.
Elia Bradley Euceda
“What’s really happening is that I had my leased filed. After we had the lease filed, we started building, but after we did this somebody came up and said that this land is for them. So about a year now, I spoke to Johnny Briceno, the Minister, and he told us that nobody can move us from this land because I have rights.”
Whatever rights Euceda may have had were lost when the buyer of the land obtained a court order to have the three families evicted. According to Omar Silva, President of the National Hispanic Council, it was just a case of a mix up in the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Omar Silva, President, National Hispanic Council
“As I understand it, they were to give the complainant, the person with the title, a choice piece of land somewhere else leaving these people here, but up to date, you know how it is, they haven’t made any reply with regards to that situation.”
But that situation is nothing new. The court’s assistant marshal and police have tried on two previous occasions to move out the Suarez, Villafranca and Euceda families, but claim that their efforts were resisted. The families themselves also appear to have been lax in asserting their legal rights.
Omar Silva
“I believe that they became a little bit complacent on that end.”
Stewart Krohn
“How do you think this is going to end up?”
Omar Silva
“Well, I hope it ends up in a fair way. These people have six children, five adults. I believe that we should be a little bit humanitarian about it at this time.”
But humanitarian impulses aside, the police have their orders to follow and by afternoon all the occupants’ possessions were piled unceremoniously under threatening skies.
Stewart Krohn
“So where are you going to go?”
Elia Bradley Euceda
“Well, I have nowhere to go.”
Stewart Krohn For News Five.
Police report that under the law, they offered to take the household goods to any place the occupants chose, but when the families refused the offer the officers just piled it on the street. The residents are also forbidden to reenter the three dwellings. At newstime Elia Euceda and the other residents were preparing to take themselves and their belongings to the Ladyville Community Centre where they will shelter until the matter can be resolved.
