Squatters continue to stymie development of new Amelia’s Ward Housing Scheme

– actions hamper legitimate landowners from starting construction

The Housing and Water Ministry has sounded a warning to residents of Amelia’s Ward – Phase 4 that squatting is illegal and as such, encouraged them to desist from erecting structures in the area.

This call was made during a visit by Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves, on Monday who conducted a site inspection of the developing housing scheme in Amelia’s Ward – Phase 4, Linden.
Presently, the infrastructural works are ongoing to facilitate the 400 Lindeners who were allocated lands by CH&PA in the scheme.
Additionally, over $300 million was set aside for infrastructural works to ensure that allottees can live in wholesome communities.

Contractors have been working to clear the land for the construction of access roads, however, the emergence of new structures by squatters continues to stymie this development and affect the ability of legitimate landowners to begin the construction of homes for their families.
The agency reminded persons that squatting is illegal and to desist from erecting structures. During the visit, the CEO was accompanied by the regional housing officer, engineers, and other technical staff attached to CH&PA.
Back in July 2021, 400 house lots and 144 land titles and transports were issued to residents in Linden during a Housing and Water Ministry “Dream Realized” initiative.
In addition, the construction of some 40 homes has commenced and caters to young professionals. These are being constructed along a main access road at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, under the 1000 Homes Initiative previously announced by President Irfaan Ali.
This exercise has proven that the PPP/C Government has allocated more house lots within the region over the two-day period than what the previous Administration had allocated over the period of five years in office.
Earlier in the year, several residents in Mocha Arcadia protested their removal from an area where works on the ongoing Eccles-to-Great Diamond four-lane highway are underway.
It was reported that back in 2021, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) engaged 35 families from Mocha/Cane View on their relocation to prepare for the four-lane road.
Extensive consultations were done to ensure the residents were relocated to developed housing schemes at Farm and Herstelling on the EBD, equipped with all the amenities that would lead to their enhanced livelihoods.
To date, some $250 million has been expended as compensation to those persons along with over $6 million compensation for crops. Additionally, lands, assistance, and titles were also made available to the residents free of cost.
However, several persons remained on the reserves over the past months after rejecting Government’s offer while making excessive demands totalling some $590 million for properties that were valued at just $56 million.