Proposed alternative area for Linden squatters identified

…as officials highlight difficulties to get legal access to land

Linden’s Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune on Monday identified one of the proposed areas which he believes is more suitable for residential purposes in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). This is in response to the “alarming increase” of squatting in the community.

The ‘Lucky Spot’ area at Wismar, Linden was identified during site visits by members of various agencies, including the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) and Environmental Engineer Samuel Wright.
The team also visited sites where squatting is evident, as challenges and solutions were discussed in moving forward. Among the areas visited are Amelia’s Ward, Blueberry Hill, Dakoura and Kularu- Block 56.
During the visits, members of the team 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.
During the discourse, Bethune 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 to work to develop suitable areas in an effort to prevent instances of squatting.
Bethune said there are concerns at the Dakoura site regarding the protected watershed which is situated in the area. He noted, however, that the people cannot be removed without alternatives, as he stressed the need for quick investigation of alternative areas and for systems to be put in place.
The Deputy Mayor also alluded that there are unauthorised persons collecting monies for lands, as he explained that this could cause the situation to degenerate into a very chaotic one. Further, he stressed that there is the issue of persons with multiple house lots who are squatting, as he made the call for the situation at Amelia’s Ward to be urgently addressed.
In areas such as Nottinghamshire, he pointed out that families are living under cramped conditions.
“Every year, a lot of people coming out of school…people want their independence…you go to Nottinghamshire…it got 5 or 6 families cramped in one home. Multiply the Nottinghamshire situation and you’re going to see why a lot of people are forced (to live under such conditions).
“There’s a lot of people who said they’ve applied to Central Housing and Planning how many years ago and there’s no response, no land”, the Deputy Mayor stressed.He added that, regardless of the situation, control measures need to be put in place. The Deputy Mayor said his main concerns are environmental, and that the LM&TC may not be able to cater for these squatting areas.
It was noted by officials that there are also persons from outside of Linden seeking and occupying lands within the community. It was noted, too, that there is no longer as much collaboration between NICIL and CH&PA as it relates to housing solutions.
Senior Land Administration Officer attached to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Julian Benons, made calls for more public sensitisation on the negative effects of squatting, as well as legal alternatives for obtaining land, as he described the situation at Amelia’s Ward as “terrible”.
Benons further stressed the need to move quickly to ascertain ownership of the lands, so they can be surveyed and allocated.
Additionally, Region 10 CH&PA Community Development Officer Toshaya Douglas-October said there is need to put pressure on the authorities to respond. This, she noted, can only be done collaboratively and with the help of the people. She said the people have taken the lead role, but if this continues, the authorities will be cut out of the process entirely. In the same vein, she stressed the need to utilise the power of the citizens.
Meanwhile, Councillor Fern McKoy also expressed frustration on behalf of residents, as she cited challenges in land allocations. “…the system is so ‘long and dragged out’, and that is why people do what they have to do…everybody, I think, deserves a piece of land, and…if you apply…it taking so long, so many years before you get it. And in the meantime, people struggling for somewhere to live. So people go and squat”, she explained.
Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell also shared her concerns, pointing out that “people have already found the land…I would assume that the ministries do not have the collateral nor the ability to identify lands as fast as we think they should, and so that boat has sailed. But the people have identified the land.”
Arrindell said the Council had requested names of persons interested in acquiring land in an effort to eliminate those who already, have based on CH&PA data. She said there are residents willing to get on board in assisting with land development, once alternative areas are identified.
Stressing that the Council does not have the finances, Arrindell said the aim is to work to have a team, including surveyors, on the ground to take a closer look at alternative housing areas.
She further urged agencies to commit to a Memorandum of Understanding. (Utamu Belle)