NICIL, GL&SC to determine ownership of proposed lands to accommodate Linden squatters – Deputy Mayor

Plans continue to move apace to ascertain suitable housing locations to accommodate what officials consider a high rate of squatters in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Linden’s Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune, who is spearheading the initiative, indicated that the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) wrote the relevant agencies and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission are expected to ascertain ownership of the proposed lands. Bethune noted that at a meeting following the last visit to the squatting areas, it was concluded that ownership of the proposed and squatting locations should first be ascertained. The agencies are also expected to assess the total mass of these areas as well as the quantity of lands available prior to moving forward.
He explained that the LM&TC is also seeking to have the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Linden Electricity Company on board for discussions. According to the Deputy Mayor, there must be an inter-agency relationship between such agencies in moving forward.
“So when approvals are being granted for these basic utilities…it must be a consensus among all of us rather than us acting independently…”, he explained.
Bethune recently identified one of the proposed areas which he believes is more suitable for residential purposes in response to the “alarming increase” of squatting in Linden and other parts of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). The “Lucky Spot” area at Wismar, Linden, was identified during site visits by members of various agencies including NICIL, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the LM&TC and Environmental Engineer Samuel Wright. The team also visited sites where squatting is evident as they discussed challenges and solutions in moving forward. Some of the areas visited included Amelia’s Ward, Blueberry Hill, Dakoura and Kularu – Block 56. During the visits, members of the team also highlighted challenges faced by residents in gaining legal access to land as well as challenges faced by Local Government bodies and relevant agencies in dealing with squatting. Bethune, during the discourse, pointed to massive squatting taking place in areas such as Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward as he stressed that this puts additional pressure on the authorities to regularise squatter settlements. As such, he questioned the ability of the authorities in working to develop suitable areas in an effort to prevent the instances of squatting.