Growth of housing sector causing encroachment on farmlands – Croal

Standing out as a major issue for the Housing Ministry, Minister Collin Croal has revealed, is the increase within the housing sector, which has caused a situation of encroachment on farmlands.
When he made this disclosure during a recent interview on the Guyana Dialogue programme, Minister Croal said this is affecting farmers in almost all aspects, including those into commercial livestock.
“One of the challenges we have now for the housing programme is that, as we go inwards, we are meeting…we are going to the zone, or close to where farmers, both from commercial, from crops and livestock, as well as crops and livestock…and so a lot of that, you’re entering that zone,” the minister noted.
Explaining that this has created competing interests, he cited a situation in which this encroachment has caused cattle to roam.
“So, you have competing interests. And then, for example, when we developed the East Bank, expanded the East Bank, we had to, through the Ministry of Agriculture, relocate a lot of cattle farmers, because those cattle farmers were, you know, literally just loosing the animals in the areas because they were wide open areas,” he explained.
Relocation of cattle has also been happening on the East Coast, and the minister explained, “Similarly, on the East Coast, we’re encountering something similar. So, like LBI, we have a massive scheme there for young professionals. They’ve sent back a message to say, you know, you have some cattle roaming around the area, so we’re working with the Ministry of Agriculture to move those.”
Croal explained that cattle roaming in areas on the East Coast actually come from areas on the East Bank.
“You know what they said to me? Those cattle were the ones — some of them — moved from the East Bank, you know. So, as it’s happening, it’s happening with fluidity. So, to answer your question, in my view, it is not fixed.”
Explaining that a factor in this development is the expansion and growth of the housing sector, Minister Croal said, “It’s expanding and it’s growing, and that’s because, as I said, we are able to do more at a much more rapid pace, and you have a President who is committed to ensuring, as quickly as possible, that Guyanese have access to home ownership. However, we have to do this via a policy. We have to have criteria, and that is what we’ve been operating with.”
Lending his perspective to persons soon to receive their house lots, Minister Croal explained that as the lands become available, the ministry offers lots as soon as they become available.
Adding that there have been instances when persons do not accept the areas in which they have been offered lots, Minister Croal said, “As I said, as the land becomes available, we offer that. So having said that, the reality is that we will continue to grow and expand, but it is going to change every single day, as I speak.”