In an exclusive story, the Nassau Guardian reports that civil and criminal charges could be filed against Arawak Homes for the destruction of a family’s property that was in a house the company destroyed last month.
Maria Wood, whose home was demolished by Arawak Homes last month, has retained attorney Wayne Munroe who plans to sue the development company for damages. Mr Munroe also said he would ask the police if criminal charges should be brought against the company.
The Woods family alleges that their property within the home was detroyed in the demolition.
“That is an issue that is separate and apart from any issue of the title to land because that is their property,” Mr Munroe told The Nassau Guardian.
Mr Munroe gave the example of someone leaving a car on another person’s property. The owner of the property would not have the right to destroy the vehicle, just because it is on their land.
“Any landlord in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas knows that you could have a tenant who is in default and it’s clearly your property and they have breached the lease, but you still have to go to court to get an order to get them out,” the attorney said.
Mr Munroe also took issue with who actually owns the land the house was built on.
Arawak Homes alleges that they own the land. The company alleges that the law firm which sold Wood the land obtained a title through fraud.
Mr Munroe noted that Section 27 of the Quieting Titles Act, 1959, states that, “any certificate of title obtained by means of fraud or falsehood shall be null and void except as against a bona fide purchaser for valuable consideration without notice”.
A bona fide purchaser is a person who is not aware of any conflict that might be involved with a particular purchase.
Read the complete story in The Nassau Guardian.
