The current situation regarding the squatters along the East Coast Demerara, especially in the Success area, has been given much publicity in the media over the past few days. From the inception, the situation could have been avoided had the previous APNU/AFC Administration taken a proactive approach to address the issue of squatting.
Instead, what we are seeing now are attempts by the APNU/AFC to gain political mileage, rather than to work with the Government in finding a practical and reasonable solution to the problem.
It is very difficult to believe the recent claims of Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon: that the then APNU/AFC Government were unaware of the situation when they demitted office, just over two months ago. It should be noted that the APNU/AFC had spent in excess of five years in office, and Harmon served in several senior positions, including Minister of State, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, and as a Member of Parliament.
About 150 persons have illegally taken up residence on the cane lands owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), but now that the company is embarking on efforts to revitalise the industry by reopening three estates closed by the APNU/AFC regime, including the East Demerara Estate (Enmore), attempts are being made to remove the squatters from the lands.
GuySuCo had disclosed that some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane have been damaged by the squatters in those areas. GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Sasenarine Singh was quoted as saying that while the squatters have been affected by steps taken in preparation for the recommencement of operation, the successful outcomes from the sugar mills at Enmore require a supply of one-year-old mature sugar canes. As a result, land tillage needs to commence next January.
It is against this backdrop that the sugar corporation, on Thursday last, flooded the fields, including the area where the squatters are occupying at Success.
Not long after the PPP/C Administration assumed office, it began to work with the squatters to legitimately resolve the problem. However, with prodding from some political operatives, the residents are hell bent on doing things the wrong way.
In fact, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has visited the area to commence the land application process for the unlawful occupants, so that they could be eligible for a house lot.
Lands in 22 areas on the East Coast, East Bank, and West Bank Demerara; at Linden, and in Berbice and Essequibo were approved in the 2020 Emergency Budget, and this publication understands that allocations for the residents will fall under this project. But many are still refusing to relocate from the squatting areas.
Squatting is an illegal activity in Guyana, and persons could face certain penalties if they are found to be breaking the law. This is the case in other CARICOM countries as well as outside of the region.
The present administration has been very accommodating in offering the residents a path to land ownership, but they have not shown a willingness to cooperate with the authorities. On Saturday, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips visited the area and offered shelter to persons squatting on lands belonging to GuySuCo. However, this offer was also rejected by the squatters.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had conducted a needs assessment of the squatters at Success, while simultaneously preparing the Graham’s Hall Primary School as a potential shelter for those persons who have been flooded out.
Moreover, President Ifraan Ali, during his speech at the two-day housing drive held at the National Stadium recently, expounded, inter alia, that all Guyanese under his administration would benefit from housing, but the process has to be done the right way.
In the absence of any coherent housing policy, and with a backlog of thousands of applications being stalled in excess of 5 years under the previous administration, one can understand the desperate move made by the 150 residents to meet their fundamental human right to adequate shelter.
However, with multiple options currently before them under this Government, it would be prudent for the squatters to take up the offers and become legitimate home owners. This, as President Ali said, will be beneficial, as legitimising their home ownership would allow them to capitalise on the sale on the land/property should they decide to sell at some point. This could never be the case if ownership of land is achieved illegally.
