by Maria Bradshaw

WHEN Anthony Chandler left the United States in 2005 to retire in Barbados he expected to be moving into one of the new Government built houses at Barbarees Gardens. What he got, however, was the cold shoulder.

For over a year the
65-year-old man has been living at the mercy of relatives – moving from one house to the next and paying people to store
the container of items
he brought with him.

Back in 2004 Chandler became the legal owner of Lot 46, a house and land located at Pickwick Gap, St Michael, which his brother Christo Chandler left him in his will.

However, while he spent over two years trying to get two squatters off the land, those squatters are now living at Barbarees Gardens in the house which was built for him.

What is even more mysterious is that after he produced all the legal documents to the Ministry of Housing showing that he was the rightful owner of the land, Chandler was given the option of being monetarily compensated for the property, or accepting one of the houses at Barbarees Gardens.

Chandler, who spent more than 30 years living in the United States said he chose the latter because he knew he was relocating here. He said he was advised by ministry officials to pay the back taxes on the land, which he did.

His son Ricardo Nurse said when he found out that the ministry was handing out keys he called them.

"I called up and asked when I could come and collect the keys to my father's house because he was due to arrive here three days later with his container. I was told that there was a problem and that [a representative] would meet with me at my lawyer's office. So we made an appointment.

"[That representative] told us that they had put the squatters who were living in my father's
house into the new
house at Barbarees Hill.

"I asked how could that happen when my father's container was on the way and I was told that they were only dealing with people who were living at Pickwick Gap at the time and that their legal officers would have
to deal with the matter."

Since then Chandler's son has struggled
to ensure that he had
a roof over his head. He now lives with his son in his one-bedroom home.

Nurse explained that in order to accommodate his father, he built a bedroom in the backyard for him and his fiancée and a shed to store his father's items.

"We have spent
so much money fighting this matter that it is frustrating. I have written letters. I telephoned the minister and spoke to him. I spoke to so many different people and
all they would say is that they would investigate
and get back to us. They never did," said Nurse.

Attorney-at-law Michael Lashley, who represents Chandler, called the situation an injustice.

He charged that he had written several letters to the ministry, but never received a reply until recently when he was told that his client would get a house at Barbarees Gardens Phase 2.

However, Lashley stated that he had no written confirmation on this.

Reiterating calls for the Land Acquisition Act to be amended, he said this case was a perfect example of how the act can disadvantage a landowner.

He called on Government to adequately compensate Chandler for his suffering and to offer him a public apology.

When contacted, Minister of Housing Reginald Farley said the matter was being resolved.