Lombard St residents
was populated by two sets of residents, only one of which could be relocated.
“What I have been told with regard to property is that it was left intestate. There are several families and offspring of families of the original owners still living there …who feel that they should be the ones to inherit the property. They will remain there since they see it as their right to be there and so there will always be residents there,” Lawrence explained. She had however explained that another group of persons have over the years taken up residence. These persons, who have no other place to live, had been encouraged to apply to the Ministry of Communities’ Housing Department for relief.
She noted under the previous administration, several of the residents had applied to the ministry of housing and some were even allocated house lots but the cost for the lot “was far above their capacity to pay.”
Lawrence had indicated that she was working with Minister Patterson to see how they could utilise house lots which were allocated but not occupied for these residents. The two ministers appear to be closer to fulfilling this goal, with Minister Patterson committing to relocating the persons living there.
The government statement said that Phillip Chase, a resident of the settlement for more than a decade, organised the meeting with the two government ministers, paving the way for them to secure better homes.
Chase and other residents expressed satisfaction at the commitments made by the ministries.
“I am grateful for what the government is doing since I have waited many years for an opportunity for better housing,” Marissa Aldia, another resident living in the squatter community was reported as saying.