No plans to establishment housing settlements – Minister Ali
THE Ministry of Housing and Water is currently undergoing an aggressive campaign to remove squatters from the land aback the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

Over the past week several persons had begun squatting in the area. Several of these persons said they were told by unknown sources that the land was available for occupancy and that Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali was slated to meet with them on Wednesday to discuss the mater.

However, Minister Ali in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), refuted these claims.

“This activity is completely illegal; we have not allocated any lot in this area. There are no plans of establishing any housing establishment within the area that the squatters invaded,” he said.

Since last Monday, Ministry Officials have been clearing the area. On Wednesday they successful removed all markings on the land and persons were notified of the repercussions of squatting. The officials also advised the squatters on the correct way to obtain legal house plots.

The Minister said investigations by the Ministry have revealed that a group of mischievous persons are misleading others into the setting up squatting settlements in the area.

He said his Ministry will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that persons desist from this activity.

“We would like to tell the people out there that squatting is illegal. If you go there in the first instance we will remove you but if persons continue to go there we will have to charge them,” he said.

Minister Ali said investigations are continuing to locate the persons who motivated people to squat in this area and charges will be made against them.

The Minister also disclosed that the land in question is Government reserve and has been earmarked for several developmental purposes including the construction of an Amerindian hostel and the establishment of the Olympic Association’s head office.

The Minister noted that the section of the land in the vicinity of the CARICOM Secretariat will remain vacant for security purposes.

Over the years it has been found that many people occupying land such as Government reserves, sea defence and cemeteries has posed problems to the Housing Ministry. The Ministry is therefore urging persons to apply for house lots through the Ministry