The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is in the process of regularising several squatting settlements and are looking for alternative areas to relocate those in areas that cannot be regularised, according to Community Development Director, Gladwin Charles.
Community Development Director, Gladwin Charles
He added that the Authority is currently focusing on regularising Angoys Avenue, New Amsterdam, which is the largest squatting settlement in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
“One of the areas we are working on this year is Angoys Avenue; it is the largest squatting area in Region Six, where we have approximately 1010 lots.”
He stated that the CH&PA in April started the allocation of lots in the area, verification and preparation for the processing of titles.
“We hope before the end of the year persons would start receiving their titles. So far we have had 510 allocation offers to persons who we have verified and we have given them offers and persons would have started making payments at the regional office in Region Six,” he informed.
He added that another area the CH&PA is seeking to regularise and relocate is at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.
“We are working with (Guyana) Lands and Surveys (Commission) to regularise that area. To date, we have completed the block and occupation survey and we are doing a design of the area,” he added. Charles said in the design for Middle Road, the Authority would be able to determine the lot sizes. He stated that they would also be seeking alternatives to relocating some squatters who are in areas that cannot be regularised.
In delivering a mid-year assessment, Charles said 198 of 400 lots have been verified while being able to process 185 of 350 titles, putting them on par with their targets.
“I would like to advise persons especially in Sophia where we are doing some works, there are persons complaining that more persons going onto the dams or the reserves so we are asking person to resist from doing this. We would encourage them to come into the Ministry even if they don’t have an application so we can work with them,” he urged.
However, Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, said the body has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy as it relates to squatting. “Persons who are squatting will be removed but we must identify appropriate locations for them and we are currently working on that. There is a lot of issues that must be taken into consideration,” he said.
Many persons squat because of the amount of time it takes to process house lot applications – a process they are quite critical of.
