Following the demolition of several structures on the Haslington/Enmore drainage reserve, East Coast Demerara, by a team of officials from the Housing and Water Ministry Thursday, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali reiterated that his Ministry has adopted a zero tolerance campaign on squatting, especially along important reserves and areas that pose health and environmental risks.

The Minister said on numerous occasions several notices were issued to squatters advising them that they were contravening the laws, but they failed to pay heed and continued constructing.

Residents, he also noted, frequently lodge complaints to the Ministry as it relates to more persons squatting.

“The fact that these persons fail to comply with the contravention notices and to a situation that was becoming untenable, the Ministry took the ultimate action of removing these illegal occupiers from the land…these persons are not living in these illegal structures.  I also want to make it very clear that notices of contravention were served on all the individuals concerned, both verbally and in writing… so I just want the public to know that we have to take this necessary action; we have to address illegal and unlawful behaviour; we have to bring back discipline,” Minister Ali emphasised.

In addition, the Minister said his Ministry has created a registry for several squatter settlements which are under review for regularisation.

He said that despite some squatter settlements can be regularised, there are others that cannot, since they pose tremendous health risks in terms of the environment and drainage and irrigation.

Other areas on the Ministry’s radar, he added, include Wallers Delight, West Coast Demerara, Region Three.

The emergency of some squatter settlements in recent years has become a major challenge for the Housing and Water Ministry. With the reign of the PPP/C administration from 1992, a new housing policy was immediately formulated to place focus on public land distribution as a key factor in the social and economic development of Guyana.

A squatter regularisation programme was also drafted to provide basic services and improve the quality of life of people living in these areas. (GINA)