I wish to express my support for the managing director at the HDC, Jearlean John and the way she has moved to handle the controversial issue of the illegal occupation of land by farmers at Pineapple Smith, D'Abadie. Bleeding hearts like Dr Clifford Ramcharan, writing in the Guardian, who called for John to resign, are missing one salient point: The farmers were occupying the lands illegally and they were aware of HDC's intentions, having been served with the quit notices.
The farmers preferred to stay on the land instead of vacating it, and as a result knowingly set the stage for a volatile situation. It was an act of lawlessness and detractors like Ramcharan need to recognise that as a country we cannot condone such action. Choosing housing over food is not the issue; rather it is whether lawlessness is to be condoned.
Why should John walk? Her competence to get the job done in the face of raging criticism speaks volumes of her capabilities. She was acting on the Government's stated mandate to build low-cost houses in designated areas, and D'Abadie was one of them. John should be complimented for taking the stance she did and not caving in to the farmers' demands.
Selwyn Singh
La Romaine