Cane View/Mocha residents whose homes were demolished by the government have instructed their lawyers to start legal proceedings after government failed to signal interest in mediation.
On February 8, 2023, International lawyer Dr. Vivian Williams and Lyndon Amsterdam served notice on Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC, that they have been retained by the aggrieved residents of Caneview/Mocha and are instructed to pursue a just resolution of their grievance.
The lawyers, who are representing Candacie Williams, Roxanne Allen, Lashonda Ellis, Joyann Ellis, have given the government seven days to initiate settlement talks. The deadline for government to signal its intention to pursue an out of court settlement expired on February 15, 2023.
“We have strengthened capacity for aggressive representation and have started deploying our litigation and conflict resolution strategies” says, New York based Attorney at Law Dr. Vivian Williams who along with Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, wrote the government on February 8,2023.
After being briefed of the unresponsiveness of the government, the residents who have lost their homes and personal property, expressed disappointment at government’s unwillingness to engage on the matter.
The legal team was boosted over the weekend with the addition of Attorney at Law Dexter Todd.
The number of residents who have retained the lawyers has now grown to nine (9). In a joint interview last week, Williams and Amsterdam stressed the value of conflict resolution to society and expressed the hope that the government would grasp the opportunity to engage in sensemaking.
The lawyers stressed that the residents have very strong claims against the government. However, they wanted to give the government an opportunity to find common ground with the aggrieved residents before heading to court.
