SOURCE: REAL NEWS ANTIGUA- Twenty-one homes in Jennings Extension due to be demolished this morning; owners feel they have been bad-played by DCA
The Development Control Authority (DCA) is scheduled to demolish 21 properties in Jennings Extension this morning, November 14, according to the home-owners, who believe they have been “bad-played” by the Browne Administration.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
Last night, the plight of the homeowners was brought to the attention of REAL News by Senator Johnathan Joseph, the United Progressive Party caretaker for St. Mary’s North.
The families whose houses are up for demolition admitted to our Newsroom that they have been squatting on Crown land – owned by the Ministry of Agriculture – but say they had been promised they would be allowed to buy the spots on which they had built.
They claim that, in another area of the Extension, other squatters had had the land surveyed and their plots allocated and had been allowed to purchase them.
According to the threatened 21, several months prior to the 2023 General Election, the authorities had assured them they would not have to move and had reiterated the promise that they would be permitted to buy the land.
All the home-owners were asked to do, in the meantime, was improve the appearance of their properties – and they claim, for the most part, they have complied.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
Subsequent to that, however, the DCA served an Enforcement Notice on the families on the grounds that the development of the land had been carried out without the required permit. Further, the home-owners had “placed/built a dwelling house on Crown land without permission from the Lands Division, and without permission from the DCA for your structure(s).”
The Notice was due to take effect on July 31, 2024. But, reportedly, “a meeting was held with the DCA to try to remedy the situation,” a home-owner tells REAL News; and promises were made that the affected families would be given the option to purchase the land.
“On numerous occasions, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHAPA) requested that applications be made to buy the land. These applications were made and proved futile,” the man explains. “It was then requested by CHAPA that we write letters to help solve the problem.”
Reportedly, the squatters wrote letters of apology and were promised that the land would be made available for purchase. Accordingly, they say, they filled out land-application forms.
The worried home-owners claim that, up to three weeks ago, the DCA called to find out if they were still interested in the land.
Then on Tuesday, November 12, they say that representatives from the DCA came to them, giving verbal notice that, at 9 a.m. today, Thursday, November 14, the houses would be demolished.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
The 21 home-owners say they are seeking an extension to the Enforcement Notice as multiple families will be affected by this sudden planned demolition.
REAL News will continue to follow this story.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
“The families whose houses are up for demolition admitted to our Newsroom that they have been SQUATTING on Crown land “
This is the time to see the ministers hold cabinet session like they do for white investors and go to parliament to help Antiguan, and I say that because foreigners come here and do as they like.
Word!!!
Why complain? You already break the law by squatting.
Foreigners coming here and doing the same translates to their not taking responsibility for their actions? You can’t be wrong and strong. You violated the law by building on crown land with audacity.
I never understood how people who do the wrong thing always want sympathy, but never want to give sympathy to others when they make mistakes.
This behavior has to stop in Antigua and Barbuda.
There has to be some order in the way the citizens respect the law.
I have no leniency for law breakers. I leave that to the discretion of the government.
I calling on the PM Gaston Browne, sir, please help these people. Is soon the end of the year and people are celebrating their Xmas season. These People need their homes. I know you are busy, but sir you are a family man as well. I’m counting on you sir to give these people some relief to these families. And families, if you get the chance to pay for the properties, please , I implore you pay as best as you can. Pay something every month, do not allow the month to pass and don’t pay. Pay jack.
DCA when are u done, go mash down that UPP RATTA CONDOMINIUM AT EAST BUS STATION!!!
so people must work hard to pay for mortgage and they want to get FREEBS?
I have my place in the extension a decided to move because of the pandemic I see taking place down there and devaluing people’s” Place it’s just not right respects people, tax payers and their place simple!
enough is enough
Not everybody lucky to can afford morgatage or tonbuy a piece a land right away as a government work i been to the bank numerous times and was told my salary isnt enough…..oh my rent kill poor ppl so alot find alternatives to living….reallly see how human beings behave boy….help the sqautrrs
Any thought given to how many properties have been fraudulently taken by politicians and attorneys who have the means to alter documents so they can take people’s properties. I know a few. Calling out these poor people for creating a home for their families the only way they could. It may be wrong but at least they are doing it in the open. Not hiding behind their crooked accountants, etc. Antigua is all about the rich white man and how they can get their scamming hands on money.
The lands are not agriculture lands they are chapa lands an chapa even make roads . The Jamaican an Guyannise has gotton notice a few times. An them still not moving saying there live there 5/10/20 years an the truth houses been there 2/3 years an more go up every second .people must understand if you want something must do it the right way .There will see the pointers /plus chapa signs an pull them out saying there don’t care . Now chapa want them off the land it’s big issue. Some say there have papers an some say them paying for land which is a lie. Them know it’s wasn’t agriculture land
Before any structure, temporary or permanent is placed or erected on land or another structure, a building permit or a formal approval is required. This is pretty much a standard requirement all over. That it has taken so long for DCA to notice and to take action in little 268 to the extent that 21 dwelling homes can be built is troubling. DCA never seem to miss a beat when they think anything political is being erected but they seem to have fallen asleep on this gross irregularity. I am firmly of the view that the laws must be followed but to break down 21 homes is unconscionable, excessive and unjust. DCA must take responsibility for allowing this to get out of hand before taking action.
Why don’t we all go squat on government land and when they want to come and take it we cry fowl.
This is the lawlessness that keeps going on in this country and when the authorities are trying to uphold the law we get upset. But the country have to be ruled by law. And people who deliberately break the law should know that they will pay one day. But I blame the many other department of government that are simply not doing their work. The main one is APUA. How can someone get Water and Electricity service on a property where they are not the legal owner. And DCA should be more proactive and not wait untill years have past by to try and rectify a situation. And then in the end everyone wants to blame the government. When the ministers have nothing to do with what DCA does. They are a creature of the constitution. No one can built anything without their approval. Yet people built any and everything anywhere. Especially vendors at the roadside. It has become the norm now to just knockup some plywood and some old pallets and your friends at APUA will hook you up with utilities. No questions asked. And the police stays away from all of this. None of their business. DCA has not called on them to vacate the premisis.
Antigua lawless.
What’s the difference with squatting an someone building a house on pocket without a plan so that means the house ain’t registered an that said person is giving me problem where I live an was living before him, waste water from that same unregistered house running to ppl yard septic leaking water run off from 3 sides of the house, contacted DCA an CBH for months now an nothing Bieng done, BOY IF U DONT KNO PPL IN HIGH PLA CES IN ANTIGUA, DOG BETTER THAN U, all when the pm sent a post with information to a director I charge of that firm still no results
I dont feel sorry for them they knew it was wrong , cant squat on chapa lands their for sale …they have workers to pay and workers have families. Just come off the people land we can’t go Jamaica or guyana and do that … oh please. And y’all want people to sorry for you , chappa has been trying to get them off the land ,they don’t want to pay for the land . Wrong a wrong
Mr. Phillip you are so right . They were afraid of the backlash of the voters from the people so no action was taken . You remember how quick DCA demolish the property in Parham and the one west of riding sun ground ? It is all about power for them. A lot of Antiguans complaining about the squatting down there ,hence action must take place .While the DCA at it now ,remember all the derelict shacks been built on the road sides all over Antigua .
People need to stop building anywhere they want and “without permission”. You just get up and take land without authorization? And usually like a shanty town. Antigua needs to be pulled back. Laws need to be enforced. Even foreigners come and do whatever they want, then have the nerve to be arguing with Antiguans. The place needs real leadership. St. John’s naked you want to cry. Put up anything anywhere, and leave overnight. No matter how dirty nobody does anything. Like the authorities don’t know the word “work”. Do you job, enforce tough laws. Whole country is shanty town to me. Horrible aesthetics, yet inviting tourists. To do what? Interact where for a great experience. Nutten dey.
Although it is very wrong for people to occupy lands that does not belong to them.. I think that the government should regularize the land and allow them to pay . They could lot it up and sell them seeing that they are already living on the land. Why mashed down their house and leave them on the street ??? 21 families homeless ?? With children.. say each homes have 2 children, is a lot of people that on the street.. this will only make matters worst.. do u know how many people are living in rent house, or even home owners and can’t even make ends meet… those paying rent owe so much rent. It’s not funny. And Wil soon b out on the street too..
And counting that cannot provide proper living condition for its citizens or feed them has failed the citizens miserably… ok say you demolished their homes. What next ???.. two wrong does not makes it right… if you stick out my eye and in return I stick out your own don’t you think we will all go blind ???
Even though what these people did was illegal.. I believe that if they could genuinely afford to live somewhere else they would.. if they could afford to pay rent do you honestly believe that they would be squatting ??? Think about it.. check them out and see . If you demolished their home think of the amount of homeless people you will now have on your hands.. count the amount of children involved… to them this is home. While two wrongs DON’T make a right.. I say lot up the land and sell it to them or lease it to . Give them time to pay…
When you demolished their homes , you win. Good God Almighty man have a heart.. if a someone live on that parcel of land that floods out all the time.. them they are in a desperate situation. They make themselves comfortable inspite of the situation. The government needs to stand up for its citizens..