PMC warns of eviction for repeat offenders in Persévérance housing estate |03 February 2024

Vandalism to a PUC substation in Persévérance

Following a spate of incidents and anti-social behaviour at the Persévérance housing estate, the Property Management Corporation has issued a call to residents to abide by the rules and regulations of the estate, or face eviction.

Enforcement and compliance manager Phara Bibi stated on Thursday that the Property Management Corporation (PMC) will no longer tolerate individuals and families who repeatedly fail to abide by the conditions of their agreements.

Presently, PMC is faced with a number of challenges on the estate, in the form of derelict vehicles, anti-social behaviour, illegal structures, keeping animals on the estate, illegal dumping of rubbish, and over crowdedness. Additionally, disputes among neighbours, loud music, illegal activities, and non-payment of rent continue to persist.

Although PMC has the authority to evict tenants, the process is time consuming, and can only be considered an option when all other options have been exhausted and failed, communications manager Philippa Larue stated. As a consequence of the legal procedures involved, eviction is also costly.

Prior to eviction, PMC is required to offer counseling, and issue tenants with warnings. 

However, the eviction process is quicker for drug-related offences, for which there is a zero tolerance policy.

It is imperative that residents report problems to the PMC, Ms Larue said, noting that a great deal of reports do not reach the organisation. Residents must also alert the police when necessary for peace and order. She stressed the importance of evidence from the police, for PMC to take further action.

Despite challenges in handling cases across 165 housing estates, PMC now has more staff in its enforcement and compliance division.

“We expect that everybody makes an effort to change their behaviour if they are behaving negatively. Turn it into a positive so that it reflects well on them as a family, a couple, or an individual, in the interest of the community and a better atmosphere for everyone,” Ms Larue added.

PMC has since last year started a campaign to educate the public about estate rules and regulations. 

Member of the National Assembly for Persévérance, Desheila Bastienne noted that although complaints are often not filed with the PMC and police, along with the two district administrators, they receive an overwhelming amount of complaints from residents.

In a bid to address the issues and to try and instill some order, they hold task force meetings with concerned agencies, including social services, PMC and the police, and the families concerned.

“As the district authorities, we face a lot of criticism and we receive a lot of complaints that we are not doing anything, without realising that we do a lot behind the scenes,” Ms Bastienne stated.

Although the majority of problems were in the vicinity of Persévérance 2, it has since shifted to Persévérance 1.

Alarmingly, most offenders are repeat young offenders, which is a major cause for concern, district administrator (DA) for Persévérance 1, Aaron Bonnelame said.

Despite community engagement efforts, there is very little resident interest. Ms Bastienne highlighted a lack of attendance at a recent meeting organised with officials from over 10 different entities, aimed at addressing complaints about rats. Only three residents attended. 

Together with the district’s crime watch group, the district authorities intend to step up community policing, especially at night.

DA for Persévérance 2, Nichole Agricole, advocates for community empowerment programmes, especially for youths.

They concurred that PMC and law enforcement should be stricter in dealing with repeat offenders so as to deter others from committing such acts.

Laura Pillay