Some ECD squatters agree to relocate

…others still illegally grasping on to State lands

Mass squatting along the East Coast of Demerara had resulted in a confrontation between residents and State officials, after these persons were informed that they are squatting on Government reserves.
Persons even became violent when they were asked to remove from the lands, which belong to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), primarily at Vryheid’s Lust, Success and Chateau Margot. This had caused the Ministry of Housing and Water to intervene, promising a house lot in one of 22 areas which are being developed.

When Guyana Times visited the Success area on Monday, the squatters were in the process of submitting their information to officers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on site. Scores of persons were willing to seek help from the authorities in order to better their living conditions. Moreover, some persons were open to moving to another location.
Derrick Peters, who has been squatting at the area for the past three years, said he does not mind relocating to another location, as long as the land is legally allotted by Government.
“For me, I won’t mind. As long as I get somewhere else, I wouldn’t mind,” the man related.

However, some persons are sceptical, given that they have invested money to purchase construction materials to illegally build on State lands.
“I don’t know if they will be able to give them here or give them somewhere else but some people want to stay here. They see here as the best place. A lot of people done invest and build their house here. It will be hard for some there.”
Another man, Carl Brown, told this publication that he would also accept a new location. Brown contended that persons are not budging to move because the transportation costs to Georgetown is cheaper and they find employment in neighbouring communities. Should house lots be provided in an easy-access location, many would find it as an easy transition.
A few days ago, it was reported that 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. This publication understands that allocations for the residents will fall under this project.

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 the standoff between officials of NICIL and squatters, the Ministry said this process would aim to ensure that those citizens legally acquire land.
In September, a meeting was convened and Government’s zero-tolerance position on squatting was further made clear. The Ministry has assured that all the necessary infrastructure for sustainable housing: such as roads, electricity, lights, and drainage and irrigation, will be installed at whichever locations these persons are placed.
Already, the issue of squatting in this area has resulted in dire impact for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The Corporation lost a significant amount of its research crop at the Chateau Margot nursery, after some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane were destroyed by the squatters to make room for their housing needs.
Head of the Agriculture Research Centre, Gavin Ramnarain had expressed that the damaged plants were of fine quality, with the potential to earn the country billions per year. The loss has also dampened Guyana’s thrust in the sector, since years of research have been completely devastated. (G12)