By Saskia Warrick
February 14, 2025
After the Mocha/Arcadia squatters suffered a legal defeat in their battle for over $200 million in damages, President Irfaan Ali has reiterated his government’s commitment to assisting the affected residents.
The squatters, who had been resisting eviction from state-owned lands in the Mocha Arcadia/Cane-view area, had received formal eviction notices from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), along with relocation incentives.
However, they opted to challenge the eviction in court.
The court recently ruled against the squatters, ordering them to pay $2 million in costs to the three respondents: CH&PA, Guysuco, and the Attorney General.
Following the ruling, President Ali addressed the situation, promising support to the affected families as they begin rebuilding their lives.
In his remarks, the President noted that the squatters had been misled by opposition forces, who had used their plight for political gain and have now abandoned them.
The disputed area, Block ‘X’ Plantation Herstelling, located on the East Bank of Demerara, is part of the route for the newly developed four-lane Heroes Highway.
