Public Works Ministry never promised Timehri squatters homes – denounces this assertion in Kaieteur News article

THE Ministry of Public Works denounces the assertion that the ministry promised to provide homes to squatters occupying airport lands as stated in the Kaieteur Newspaper’s April 17 publication.The article captioned ‘Works Ministry threatens to arrest, charge Timehri squatters – residents ask for promised homes’ suggests that such guarantees were made to squatters.

The ministry believes that this false claim is a deliberate attempt to distract the general public from the squatters’ blatant disregard for the law.
“For years, officials from the ministry and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) have actively engaged squatters on the relocation plans either on a one-on-one basis and/or at community meetings,” the ministry said in a statement.
In fact, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, representatives from the Ministries of Housing, Human Services, Local Government, as well as Lands and Survey Commission came to the airport and met with Timehri North residents. During those meetings, relocation options were outlined which were limited to the following:
* The provision of a house lot in existing schemes of the CH&PA
* Transportation assistance for the relocation existing of transportable homes
* Establish a community at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke Highway to include social services such as a playground, a Nursery School, Day Care Centre; public open spaces, and reserved sites for future community use

A 2013 census revealed that out of the 138 squatters interviewed, 45 percent was desirous of being relocated to Yarrowkabra, while others indicated interest in existing East Bank of Demerara (EBD) housing schemes namely: Covent Garden, Farm and Providence.
The Ministry of Public Works said “no undertakings were ever given” for the provision of houses.
The ministry said it remains committed to the development of the airport expansion and for the smooth transitional process in the relocation of squatters.

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