Three months after evicting squatters from state reserve at Anna Catherina South Scheme on the West Coast of Demerara, the Ministry of Housing has begun preparing the land to be developed into a housing scheme.
Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, in an invited comment, said, “The development is part of government’s commitment to reaching a target of 17,000 new house lots. The development is being financed through allocations made by the 2010 budget.” He added that house lots in the area being developed will be allocated to persons who have gone through the system and applied for housing provisions.
In addition, relative to provisions made for the squatters, Ali affirmed that house lots have been allocated to those who pursued the matter with the Housing Ministry.
He affirmed that the squatters who had been evicted have been given house lots elsewhere.
The squatters had been residing on reserve property at Anna Catherina/ Cornelia Ida Sea View but moved to the Anna Catherina South Scheme after being affected by the high spring tide which overtopped sections of the sea defense and caused damage to several properties.
Temporary ‘shacks’ that were constructed were dismantled by officials from the Investigation and Enforcement division of the Ministry of Housing.
Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, who visited the area in January and spoke to the squatters, made it clear that under no circumstances will squatting be allowed.
The work being done on the land marked for the housing development is being undertaken by contractor, Mr. Alli Khan.