Lissa Lane now a public road after three-year ordeal

(CMR) It has taken the government three months to the exact date to finally rectify the road access blocked off Lissa Lane in West Bay.

The heated road access debate escalated on June 28 in Boatswain Bay, West Bay when a local unemployed resident, Wilson Mendoza placed boulders in front of the residence of Mike Adams and his family; preventing them from accessing their home.

Yesterday, Friday, September 27 the National Road Authority (NRA) was on the location off King's Road in West Bay to begin the removal of bush and obstructing structures put up unlawfully.

The government stepped in after protesters highlighted the injustices created by the situation in late June. That weekend a protest organized by Cayman Marl Road finally brought many of the details the long-standing ordeal to the public's attention.

CMR has posted multiple stories and live feeds from the location showing how Mendoza and his wife Deaven Ann Mendoza have tormented the elderly couple for the past three years. The matter arose after Mendoza purchased the property and decided that he no longer wanted to allow a 45-year-old right of away access point that had long been established and registered with the land registry.

The public quickly learned that the Adams family had been silently suffering through numerous atrocities including threats and having a gate padlocked to prevent their access for the past three years. At one point, Mendoza even unlawfully removed their concrete boundary wall and used it to build his foundation. His children could be seen in other video footage throwing rocks and profanities at the elderly couple's home.

The government finally decided to step in and gazetted the road to take control of the care, upkeep and allow free access to landowners in the area.

Despite that, when the (NRA) showed up with the Land & Survey Department (L&S) yesterday Mendoza did everything in his power to attempt to prevent the clearing of the numerous properties.

Mendoza once again attempted to utilize police resources to get his way and claimed that the NRA did not properly complete the required legal processes. All other landowners confirmed to CMR that they received the various notices through the ensuing period that the government has been doing this.

In fact, the unemployed Mendoza was home last week when the NRA and L&S did an initial site visit to set our markers for the work crews. Our sources indicate that it was made very clear the work would begin in earnest this week. Mendoza even promised to remove his gate slates so that the concrete structure could be removed. It is our understanding that NRA has agreed to use public funds to replace the wall in front of his home; running parallel to the new public road.

One observer commented:

“The NRA should not be paying for replacing his wall. In fact, they should offset that against the wasted hours NRA workers stood around yesterday waiting for him to move. Plus, he still hasn't paid the workers that built the original fence. This man has no shame at all and has ignored every law in this country.”

Despite all of that, Mendoza changed his position yesterday by lying to the work crew and police that he had an injunction. However, after delaying the process for several hours he was unable to produce it. His only supporter in the area is elderly Caymanian, Crosby Ebanks who encouraged the police to contact their lawyer, James Kennedy, so that he could inform them of what they needed to do.

However, Officer Myles informed them that was not his job. Once he had the documentation from the NRA they were instructed to proceed. Despite that Mendoza then moved his SUV to purposely obstruct the NRA staff from accessing his property. He continued saying that a section 5 notice had not been published and therefore the road was not yet open to the public. He claims that until the NRA actually paves the road no one can access it and it remains public property.

Whilst speaking to Ebanks; he appeared to be equally confused and then eventually admitted that he was upset that the government had not compensated him for the land.

As the situation escalated CMR called for a citizen's arrest of Mendoza for willfully obstructing a public office from doing their jobs. Eventually, Mendoza indicated that he would be calling Sargeant Denby Groves. It was alleged in the past that Groves had taken a very one-sided approach to handling the situation.

Mendoza then left the premise indicating he had to take his wife to work. Turns out they went to the police station to inform them they were not happy about how the officer at the scene was dealing with the matter and the fact that he did not find in their favor.

It was interesting that every time Mendoza needed to speak to the police he insisted that they go inside his home. Meanwhile, when police spoke with any other residents in the area they remained outside on what is now the public roadway. It was also apparently to eyewitnesses that the initial police on the scene, Officer Myles was extremely uncomfortable being made to go into the private residence of Mendoza at his command.

Mendoza has numerous security cameras mounted in the area with both video and audio capturing capabilities.

Eventually, Superintendent Graham arrived on the scene and indicated he would be leaving an officer on location into the night to ensure that the peace was kept. However, residents in the area advised CMR after we left that the police were escorting Mendoza to and from his property and were not staying at the post as had been agreed.

This morning, the NRA team returned in earnest to attempt to complete the initial phase over the coming days.

Local residents have shared they intend to have a block party once the road is fully completed.