execution after having the better of yesterday's court battle with Government.

Government was seeking repossession of the site after claiming that people had been illegally living there.

The Woodshop scheme was for the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners who were taught woodworks skills but it was suspended in the summer after claims of mismanagement. Government claimed $24,000 was owing for rent for workshops at the St. George's site and that illegal activity had occurred on the site.

However, under cross-examination from Michael Abdul Mojah Ebbin -- who conducted the case on behalf of the other residents -- Works and Engineering Senior Estates Surveyor David Laws was forced to admit that the Woodshop Programme had a residential aspect.

Mr. Laws said this was at the catering block elsewhere on the site in Old Military Road. Mr. Ebbin said: "Were all those people you were attempting to assist living in the catering block or the Woodshop?'' Mr. Laws admitted he couldn't exactly pinpoint where the illegal tenants were supposed to be staying. The Government also quickly dropped the challenge on illegal activity after Mr. Laws admitted they were still waiting for evidence from Police.

Mr. Ebbin also challenged them over the owed rent which the Government said had built up in the 12 months since September 1999 -- at a rate of $2,000 a month for the seven rooms the programme used. Mr. Ebbin said: "A peppercorn rent had been agreed, and I can produce witnesses, agreed with Mr. Laws. How much peppercorn is? I don't know if it's $24,000.'' Woodshop tenants win reprieve Mr. Laws said rent had been set at $24,000 per year and initially there was talk about the Woodshop people doing work to the value of the rent around the site.

He said he had drafted the lease but it was never signed because various people whom he approached and were associated with the Woodshop scheme all said they were not signatories to the board.

Magistrate Will Francis said: "You are dealing with something that is shifting all the time, like quicksilver.'' He congratulated Mr. Ebbin for the way he was handling the case after the revelation that there was no signed lease -- only unsigned drafts.

Mr. Francis said: "Mr. Ebbin you have been doing a pretty good job in the cross-examination. Maybe you may want to take a certain course.

"You seem to be a man of some education, certainly of some intelligence and experience.'' Mr. Ebbin said there was a trust fund which various Government departments had contributed to.

He said: "Works and Engineering who claimed $24,000 are one of the parties.

There's a lot in it, it ain't exposed yet.'' "This case should not be answerable unless the Crown produce what was projected from the outset.'' When the hearing resumed after lunch yesterday the Government agreed to drop the claim for rent.

Lawyer Leighton Rochester said the Government was keen to get the site back and he said Mr. Ebbin had agreed he and the others living on the site would vacate it in 30 days.

Mr. Ebbin then said he wanted another two weeks as he had been the only one to have been given assistance to find alternative accommodation after being directed to "the crack, I mean Canadian Hotel.'' Mr. Francis said that emergency housing was hard to come by. He ruled that the squatters -- believed to be about seven -- should vacate the site by January 12.