there could be violent confrontation if Government attempts to bulldoze a shack on the property.

Police have been called out to enforce the clearing of the land slated for this morning, said assistant director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Parks, Mr.

William Cook.

Government is going ahead with plans to clear the land overlooking Mills Creek to turn the 8.58 acre property into a park in spite of objections by squatters who claim they have occupied the plot for almost 30 years.

Yesterday, the SPCA took away chickens and cattle belonging to the squatters while Department of Agriculture employees partially cleared the area, removing truckloads of vegetation and debris.

But squatters from the adjoining Chiappa Estate watched with disgust as a bulldozer ploughed through the property, tearing down a makeshift stable and chicken coops.

Mr. Leroy Bean who claims he has lived there since he was 13 said he has paid land tax on the property for the past 15 years.

"They're demolishing it and we don't have any say,'' he said. "It's my pride and joy,'' he said conducting a tour of the four bedroom, two bathroom shack that boasts running water and a solar panel.

"They just say they want us out of here with no explanation why,'' he said.

"Everything we've planted -- they've cut it down.'' And he claimed the squatters received no warning from Government to vacate the land, the ownership of which they say has long been in dispute.

"I'm in the street like a dog,'' Mr. Bean said. "This property has been in controversy for so long. Who is the rightful owner of this property?'' But according to Mr. Cook, the land rightfully belongs to Government since it was purchased for $100,000 six years ago.

The British Admiralty ceded the bulk of the property to the Bermuda Government in 1954. The Government purchased a further three acres from the adjacent Chiappa Estate in 1983.

He added Mr. Bascome was served with a 30-days notice last month to vacate the land for which, Mr. Cook denies any rent or tax has ever been paid.

Prior to that, Mr. Bascome had three years to take his case to the courts.

Yesterday, Mr. Cook said the squatters had been given a final opportunity to hire a lawyer to halt the bulldozers.

At a public meeting in October 1990, Pembroke residents voted to turn the land into a park but opted to keep two stables belonging to Mr. Ronnie DeSilva and Mr. Daniel Sousa on the plot adjacent to Mr. Bascome's hut.

But the decision has become a bone of contention for the squatters who claim it smacks of racial discrimination.

"They say they are going to build stables for them but what about we guys? It's a racial thing,'' one man claimed.

"They just don't like our style of living. They want everyone to modernise.'' And they warned that although they watched yesterday as bulldozers cleared the land, they would not stand by if attempts were made to dismantle the shack.