Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan is calling for an investigation into alleged acts of intimidation and harassment against Gordon Village, Tortuga residents by officers of the commissioner of State Lands Division.The Works and Infrastructure Minister, speaking with the Sunday Guardian in a telephone interview yesterday, said he has written to the commissioner of state lands on the matter.
However, he said the matter has not been addressed and his constituents continue to be threatened and harassed."I have personally made reports to the Gran Couva police about the acts of harassment and intimidation against the residents. I am forced to bring this matter into the public domain. I am calling on the commissioner of state lands to immediately launch an investigation into these acts of intimidation," Rambachan said.
He explained that five families currently residing on state lands in Gordon Village have been subjected to abuse and harassment for the past year by a private land owner whose property borders the land where they live.He said the individual has been making reports at the State Lands Division and claiming ownership of state lands and has been eliciting assistance from state lands officers to remove the residents.
"I am in the process of having these residents regularised. They have been living on the state lands since 1986, and one resident's home has been torn down by backhoes sent in by a private landowner, which is wrong. They are also being threatened with eviction notices and court orders which are being sent in wrong names and police officers are roughing them up when they come to deliver the notices," Rambachan said.
He said he has written on several occasions to the commissioner of state lands to have the residents regularised and issued certificates of comfort, but he has not been successful.