Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues has assured safe relocation to the residents of North Sophia, Georgetown, who are squatting in zero tolerance areas of the community.
Minister Rodrigues on Friday, along with the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame Mccoy and the Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond, engaged the residents.
Squatting has been identified as one of the most prominent issues in the area.
Apart from safe relocation, Rodrigues told residents that the Ministry will also look at regularisation in some areas where possible.
Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues addressing the crowd on Friday
Residents were also given the opportunity to take part in the house lot application process in order to be eventually allocated a house lot of their own through procedure.
However, Ministers Walrond and Mccoy addressed other land matters while hinting at the establishment of a North Sophia Community Development Council. This outreach is a follow-up to a meeting held with the residents just over a week ago.
Just over a week ago, several Ministers met the same residents during which McCoy registered the point that a collaborative effort is needed for the community to develop.
“All of these things are part of our role as communities if we want to be able to build wholesome communities, and I challenge you to get down to the task, and let’s all work towards this community, as we work towards improving Guyana in general,” he had highlighted.
Minister Walrond had said her Ministry is open to providing business opportunities for the youth in the community.
“My heart’s desire is for the young people, and for a lot of you to be able to own your own business…so you can learn how to bid…There will be many business opportunities…so those are the kind of things we’ll be looking at,” she had explained.
Meanwhile, Minister Dharamlall reminded residents of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s commitment to upgrade the community’s ground for sporting and recreational activities.
“So, he has committed that we are gonna work with the community to do what has to be done…,” he had said.
Small business grants were also recently distributed in the community of Sophia which saw 100 families benefitting.
These meetings/outreaches to Sophia are part of wider community consultations that the Cabinet has been engaging in across the country.
