Andre' Williams, STAR Writer

There was high drama at 118 Duke Street yesterday when an alleged masked group of men alongside a team of police officers from the Kingston Central Division attempted to carry out a demolition operation.

The men were reportedly hiding their faces to withhold their identities from the angry squatters.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that the angry squatters, some of who claim to have resided on the land for some 30 plus years, refused to allow the demolition group to carry out the exercise.

When our news team visited the scene there were a lot of household items, furniture and appliances on the sidewalk.

Several houses, mainly board, were partially destroyed.

eviction notice

It is understood that some occupants had received eviction notices from last week, though some claim to have received from May 17, disputing claims by the owners of the land that eviction notices were issued in 2010.

Our news team was told that 27 different families reside on the squatter land and that those families together comprise 42 children and 29 adults.

Janice Ellis, who appeared upset at the attempted demolition, told THE WEEKEND STAR, "Mi feel really really bad ... one person over here have nine kids and you have another with seven kids ... I plan to leave but mi just concern about those who have no where to go."

Another young lady Rennee Cunningham with a young baby clutched to her side expressed, "Me feel bad because we are unemployed ... to be poor is really a crime because from we poor we are homeless. I intend to get some where and go".

THE WEEKEND STAR was told that things got ugly during the process as a young lady from the community was allegedly attacked by one of the men who came with the demolition crew.

According to reports, the two were involved in a verbal confrontation when a glass bottle was used to hit the female in her face. She was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital.

Late in the evening, THE WEEKEND STAR was told that the demolition was put on hold, but an official reason was not given.