Just over one month since Oropune residents put their foot down on crime and other illegal activities being conducted in the area the executive of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) met on Thursday with residents to discuss the way forward including a proposed commercial community hub.
Representatives from six community groups in Oropune Gardens met at the HDC’s South Quay office to discuss the status of current initiatives and projects and an action plan for other issues.
The meeting was chaired by HDC’s Divisional Manager, Estate Management, Larry McDonald and Divisional Manager, Legal, Kimberly Molligan and attended by functional Managers from HDC departments such as Project Execution, Settlements, Security, Allocations, Social and Community Services, Land Assembly Coordination, Project Development and Oversight and Health, Safety and the Environment.
Also in attendance, were concerned resident, Colleen Holder and resident/content director of the Oropune Gardens community website, Valdeen Shears.
At the start of the two-hour meeting, a presentation on the works completed in the community since January 1 was conducted.
The presentation provided detailed updates on matters related to estate management, engineering, social intervention, safety and security, debt collection, partnerships, flood mitigation, emergency response, and the proposed community commercial hub.
In commenting on Thursday’s meeting, the HDC Managing Director, Brent Lyons, in a release indicated that “a lot of projects and initiatives have taken place in the community over the past two years. Some may not have been publicised but they have been successfully completed and implemented. It is my sincere hope that after this meeting, the residents will now be more aware of the HDC-led projects and also have a deeper understanding of their role in the development and improvement of their community.”
On July 5, Holder raised serious security issues following the July 4 murder which occurred at about 9.38 pm where a man was gunned down outside Building 4A. He was identified as Calvin Carlton Straker, 27, of Oropune Gardens and Samaroo Village in Arima.
This was the second murder within a month. On June 4, Kadeem Young, 19, aka "Smeagol" and DJ Kiddo was shot dead outside that said building at about 9.15 pm.
Holder said its residents are up in arms over the sudden increase in gun violence in the area and illegal activities and called for an immediate intervention by HDC officials and the police.
Holder said their community whatsapp chat has been "lighting up with residents expressing their fear, frustration, irritation, anger at this situation that seems to be spiralling out of control."
She also said that in the last few weeks they hear gunshots from "a similar high powered weapon ringing out on almost a daily basis."
Holder said on June 26, residents held a meeting to talk about how to take back their community from the criminal elements.
She said several agencies were invited to the meeting including the HDCs Managing Director Brent Lyons, who she added failed to show but sent a representative from the Facilities Management Unit.
The residents wanted Lyons to hear first hand of some of their so that he can have it addressed.
Issues includes:
-Illegal occupancy of HDC apartments, which facilitates criminal activity
-Possible eviction of persons flouting community rules and engaging in illegal activity
-Use of unoccupied / vandalized units for legitimate community activities (Building 237)
-Lack of a Community Centre - no place for residents to meet
-Status of a Business Park
-Poor street lighting, poor lighting in the car parks and building staircases
-Poor road conditions
-Clearing of drains
-Status of drain pumps
-Overgrown bush on empty lots
On July 10 the police moved into the area and demolished illegal structures erected by businessman Anthony Knights also known as One Foot outside and opposite to his apartment at Building 3A.
Knights operated a hardware and commercial shop.
The HDC had admitted to several issues at play at Oropune Gardens but added that it require a multi-pronged and multi-agency approach for resolution.