Lands for ECD squatters fall under 2020 emergency budget

…as Govt meets residents to initiate land allocation process

To address the phenomenon of increased squatting on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), lands which have been prepared for distribution, which were stated in the 2020 budget, will be set aside for persons who are illegally occupying State lands.

Lands in 22 areas on the East Coast, East Bank, and West Bank Demerara; Linden; Berbice and Essequibo, were approved in the 2020 Emergency Budget last week. Guyana Times understands that allocations for the residents will fall under this project.
However, hundreds of persons lined up at the Chateau Margot Primary School on Thursday, where the Ministry of Housing and Water began the land allocation process in light of recent issues with squatters.
Following the standoff between officials of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and squatters recently, the Ministry said this process would aim to ensure that those citizens legally acquire land.
Residents who were illegally occupying lands at Vryheid’s Lust, Success and Chateau Margot have started the legitimate process governing land allocation. They were asked to submit their relevant documents in order to initiate an application for lawful homeownership. Those who had already done so were required to update their existing data.

In response to this initiative, scores of persons flocked the location where the exercise was being conducted. While some complained about the slothful lines, others asked the incumbent administration to ensure that they receive a plot of land.
One man who identified himself as R Williams told this publication that he desperately wants a house lot.
“I’m here concerning the housing situation, because I applied since 2013 and I haven’t gotten through; so I’ve been squatting just until I get something. I really need something. This morning, when we came, people were trying to get into the compound to get through with their stuff,” he posited.
Meanwhile, Orin Ross explained that he has three children and cannot afford to rent a property. He noted that the squatting situation started after he lost his job.
In a statement, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, insisted that Government is “committed to ensuring that the housing needs of all Guyanese are approached with the utmost urgency and expediency”.
The Minister visited two of the areas along with a team from NICIL – the entity which owns the occupied lands. There, residents were informed that the Ministry is not responsible for the properties, but they were asked to engage the Ministry in moving forward.
“The team cautioned those persons who hailed from Greater Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara that the lands on which they are erecting structures, including permanent ones, do not belong to the Ministry of Housing and Water, or Central Housing and Planning Authority, and that their occupation of said lands remains illegal,” he clarified.
Back in September, a meeting was convened, Government’s zero tolerance position on squatting was further made clear, and residents were told to apply for land through the established process.
“They were further told that the Ministry is willing to assist in any way possible so as to ensure that they follow the legitimate process of applying for a house lot at an alternative location. The group promised to make available a list of persons from the area who have existing applications in our system, and a list for persons who are desirous of applying.”
After this did not materialise, the Ministry took the onus of hosting the exercise on Thursday.
“The Ministry is committed to facilitating this process, as it is the first step in the direction of legally owning a plot of land from the agency…The Ministry of Housing and Water remains committed to its manifesto promise of providing ten thousand house lots annually, and would like to remind persons who have applied for housing that the Ministry is doing everything in its power to satisfy the housing needs of all Guyanese,” Minister Croal added.
The Ministry has assured that all the necessary infrastructure for sustainable housing: such as roads, electricity, lights, and drainage and irrigation, will be installed.