Riot, chaos in St Ann - UDC demolishes squatter settlement - PM orders relief assistance for victims

By Garwin Davis, Staff Reporter

POLICE FIRED teargas into a hostile crowd of protesters yesterday after they failed to clear a massive roadblock mounted in the aftermath of an early morning demolition of squatter dwellings in Steer Town, St. Ann.

An infant was reportedly injured as rangers, acting on orders from the Urban Develop-ment Corporation (UDC), started smashing about 30 squatter houses in the Roaring River area of Steer Town.

The police, who also fired gunshots in the air, later arrested 30 persons for violating the Riot Act and obstructing the police.

According to the squatters, they were surprised by the UDC's demolition team when men using sledgehammers and crowbars kicked their doors opened and ordered them out. Those who resisted were physically thrown out by the rangers, the squatters charged.

"I was asleep with my six-month-old baby when a loud noise woke us up," said Susan Marsh, standing on the remnants of what was once her house, her baby clutched to her side.

"Five men kicked my door open and told me to get out. They identified themselves as officers from the UDC and said that I was living on land that didn't belong to me. I told them that I had only brought my baby home from the hospital two days ago but they just went ahead, after shoving us outside, and destroy the house. I have been living here for four years and really cannot explain this."

Elaine Reid, another squatter, said she jumped from her sleep to the sound of gunshots only to realise that her door had already been kicked in by men armed with sledgehammers.

"All six of us inside the house were physically thrown out," she explained. "I resisted at first but was eventually pushed through the door. Everything that I have worked so hard for is now gone, I really don't know what I am going to do."

The squatters charged that they were given no prior warning that they would be forcibly removed from the property and noted that on two separate occasions this year, they were given assurances by state authorities that nobody would be seeking their removal.

Following the destruction of their houses, the squatters, supported by other residents in the area, took to the street, burning tyres and blocking the major Drax Hall thoroughfare with trees, stone and other debris.

Motorists leaving to and from the resort town of Ocho Rios, including tour buses carrying visitors, had to turn back as the roadblock lasted for nearly six hours.

The St. Ann police, even with the reinforcement from the Mobile Reserve, had a difficult time containing the crowd. Not getting anywhere with their pleas to the protesters to allow for the clearing of the road, the police fired teargas which almost caused a stampede as the demonstrators scrambled for cover. The protesters retaliated by hurling stones at the police who had to take evasive action.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is calling the demolition exercise an act of state terrorism and pointed to what they say was the Government's carrying out a threat it had made to the squatters prior to the North East St. Ann by-election four months ago.

People's National Party (PNP) Councillor for the Beecher Town Division, Donavan Sydial, had warned the squatters on the eve of the by-election that if they voted for the JLP they would be in danger of losing "what they had".

"What clearer statement than that one could have," explained Opposition Leader Edward Seaga who was on the scene yesterday. "This is political victimisation of the highest order."

In Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson admitted that guidelines covering the eviction of squatters may have been breached in the Steer Town operation, but warned that unlawful reaction would be dealt with firmly by the security forces.

Mr. Patterson was making an impromptu statement to the House of Representatives. He said that he had only heard about the issue on his way to Parliament and asked leave of the House to make the statement. He said that he was taking steps to get a full report on the matter.

The Prime Minister said that he did not consider 2 a.m. an appropriate time for carrying out the exercise.

He said that he had already been in direct contact with the Minister responsible for relief in such instances and had ordered that every necessary provision be made to provide temporary accommodation and food for the victims. He said that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had dispatched officers to the area.

"I also feel that is necessary, in all circumstances, for us to issue strict and clear guidelines that will ensure in the future, that whatever has to be done is not only done in a humane way, but that nobody is caught by surprise and that all the agencies are properly alerted and equipped to ensure that the removal and the relocation are as orderly as possible," he said.

Superintendent Balfour Burey explained that the police were there to maintain law and order and promised that a full investigation would be launched to "check out any impropriety on the part of the police".

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