Mayaro MP Rushton Paray has criticised the government’s handling of the eviction of squatters in Ramjattan Trace, saying it lacked maturity and humanity.
He said the State’s actions highlight the need for a clear housing strategy while calling for the immediate halt of all evictions.
“The government must put an immediate stop to any additional evictions at Ramjattan Trace, “ Paray said in a release. “Forcing families into homelessness without alternative housing is inhumane and reckless.”
He also demanded that the Commissioner of State Lands and the Land Settlement Agency clarify the legal status of the lands and justify the eviction notices, describing the current uncertainty as unacceptable.
“The government must hold urgent consultations with the residents of Ramjattan Trace to find a fair and transparent solution. Ignoring their concerns and bulldozing homes have only escalated tensions and deepened public mistrust,” he said.
As a long-term solution, Paray proposed planned resettlements with proper housing and access to water, electricity, healthcare, and education. He suggested granting certificates of comfort and eventual land titles to those living on the land for more than a decade.
Paray also pushed for economic support through job programmes, micro-enterprise zones, and partnerships with industries in resettlement areas. He warned that evictions without economic alternatives would only deepen poverty.
“With over 60,000 families living in unregulated settlements nationwide, squatting is not a new issue. However, this administration’s failure to develop a structured and humane response has now turned it into a full-blown humanitarian crisis,” he said.
He urged the government to treat squatting as a housing issue rather than a problem to be crushed. Proactive policies, technological monitoring, and community engagement, he said, were essential to preventing future illegal settlements.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and his government have taken a firm stance against squatters saying they cannot occupy the land illegally and then try to hold on to it when asked to leave.
Speaking on Friday at the official ribbon cutting for the City Heights Housing Development he said: “You cannot run a country like that.”
“There are lots of people who are living in the country, and there are programs in the state to support squatter regularisation. There are programs to assist people. But when we try to organise the removal of persons who are occupying state lands illegally, then it becomes a complex issue, and it is not just about being humane,” Prime Minister Rowley maintained.
Rowley, Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis and MP for La Horquetta/ Talparo Foster Cummings have all taken a strong stand against the squatters.
“We make sure that people do not continue to squat on state land,” Robinson Regis said.
Robinson-Regis also highlighted the environmental and infrastructural challenges caused by squatting.
“They have been occupying the first reserves, quarrying, and creating a situation that is untenable,” she said.
Cummings said it was painful for him to witness the eviction of residents. However, he maintains that the law applies to everyone and advises affected residents to acquire homes through the proper channels.
“I would advise them, and I would even give whatever support I can to recommend that those who qualify can be considered for that type of intervention. But it cannot be that we operate in a lawless manner,” he said.