200 grateful squatters get Belle West house lots
SCORES of residents in Herstelling and Farm squatting areas on the East Bank Demerara and Plastic City, at West Coast Demerara, have been afforded the opportunity to own their own homes through the acquisition of house lots.

This was made possible, last week Wednesday, during a Ministry of Housing ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise, at Wales Community Centre, for allocations in phase two of Belle West Housing Scheme, also on West Bank Demerara,

The allotment was in keeping with the Ministry’s objective to assist every citizen with land acquisition and home ownership without discrimination or favour.
Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, in his remarks to the audience, said great attention has been focused on the issue of squatting in those targeted areas and over the impending removal of the inhabitants.
He said the Ministry and Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) remain committed to assisting with the relocation of the affected persons.
“I want to make it very clear that, as of today, every single family that has qualified for a house lot and fulfilled the requirements has been offered a house lot at the ‘One Stop Shop’ today,” Ali announced.
He said residents of those areas will, no longer, have any excuse for remaining on the land illegally because provision has been made for them elsewhere.
Ali said persons need to be aware of the fact that Plastic City, Herstelling, and Farm sea dams are zero tolerance areas for squatting.
“We will not tolerate squatting along those areas because it compromises the integrity and the safety of the larger community for which we also have a responsibility,” he declared.

EXPRESSED GRATITUDE

The affected residents of the squatter settlements, many of whom have been in occupation for some two decades, expressed gratitude to the Minister for making provisions for them.
One of the beneficiaries, Radika Harry said she has been living on Herstelling sea dam for more than 15 years and never thought she would get the chance to own a house lot.
She said she is a mother of three children and the relocation to Belle West will provide the security for her family that has been lacking over the years due to their illegally occupying a place at Herstelling.
Harry admitted she was happy when the Ministry officials visited the Monday before and disclosed that they are going to provide a legitimate place for her family to live.
She said, since last year, she and others were given notice that they would be moved.
Seventeen-year-old father of two, Dindyal Persaud was also grateful to the Government and the Ministry for providing the alternative housing plot.
He said he was born in Herstelling and his parents have been living there for more than 25 years.
As to what home ownership means to him and his family, Persaud said his children will not have to grow up in a squatting area as they will now have a legal place to live.
Naomi Oudar, who lives at Parika façade, East Bank Essequibo, acknowledged she has been in illegal occupancy for the last 20 years, in close   proximity to the main road.
She revealed that she and others were also given numerous notices to vacate the area so that road works could progress.
“Many of us know that we were holding up road works in the area because we were living so close but only now we have somewhere else to go and I am happy not only for me but my three children, as well,” Oudar said.
At least 2000 people are to benefit from the house lots in phase two, Belle West Housing Scheme.