The eviction day for Club Med squatters has been pushed back because the former staff housing at Wyndham Resort does not meet fire code regulations.

Yesterday, Sen. David Burch, Minister of Housing, confirmed that the scheduled eviction day — today — would not be met. He did not say when the revised eviction date was and a spokeswoman for the Ministry said a revised date has not been named yet. Last night Opposition Sen. Gina Spence-Farmer said the whole situation was a mess and the people living in Club Med were being neglected once again.

People have been living, illegally, at Club Med for several months now. Some of the residents said they had no other option. Ten days ago they were informed that they would be moved to emergency housing at staff quarters on the former Wyndham site or the former Pembroke Rest Home because Club Med was too dangerous to live in.

Notices were placed on the site informing residents that they would have to “vacate” the site on March 30 and in a press conference Sen. Burch said only people on the BHC housing list would be relocated to the emergency housing.

But yesterday Sen. Burch issued a release which stated staff quarters at Wyndham were not up to fire code regulations and people could not move in. He added that BHC staff were working with fire officials to ensure the building met the code, but did not say when the new move in date was.

Since his original announcement, 25 people at Club Med have signed up to the BHC emergency list, bringing the total number of Club Med squatters on the list to 31.

Four of these people have arrears totalling over $75,000 owed to BHC and Sen. Burch said they will have make arraignments with BHC to pay their debts before they can be relocated.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry added that families from Club Med, who were supposed to move into the former Pembroke Rest Home, had also been granted a “grace period” and would not be leaving the site today.

When The Royal Gazette visited the Club Med site on Tuesday people were busy packing boxes, emptying closets and preparing to move. At the time they were not aware that the date had been changed but yesterday Sen. Burch said they were now aware of the change of plans.

Sen. Spence Farmer, who initially brought the plight of the Club Med squatters to national attention, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the latest announcement.

“They have no plan and this shows it,” she said. “They didn’t go to Club Med for years and suddenly it became an issue and they go there for a visit, make an announcement that they are moving everyone out.

“And then they realise that Wyndham is not up to the fire code.”

Mrs. Spence-Farmer said she was not surprised work had to be done on the site because some of the Wyndham building have not been used or renovated since they were damaged in Hurricane Fabian. “Everything they have done has been reactionary and they don’t have a plan that is why they are in this mess.

“They made the announcement that they are putting them in Wyndham but what happens when the Wyndham owners decide to demolish the buildings? Where will these people go then?”

A date for the demolition of the staff quarters at Club Med has also not been announced yet. Government are footing the bill for the demolition but Permanent Secretary of Works and Engineering, Dr. Derrick Binns, said he does not have a “firm costing” of the demolition at the moment.

A “significant announcement” on the proposed developers of the Club Med site will be made next week, a spokesman for the Premier said.