I AM again perusing the editor’s note of response, to the pressing ‘squatting’ issue in Marshon. Honestly, and I am putting it mildly, the attitude reflected smacks of a number of negatives. First, the argument that the squatting exercise is a legacy of the PNC regime is most untenable and disgusting. This ‘skin of an excuse’ gets the intelligent populace very ‘mad.’ It just does not ‘hold water.’ The time for this mimicry has long gone. I mean, can I and should I say that ‘bad roads,’ the mal-functioning of GPL, the Skeldon factory controversy etc. have plausible PNC saturated explanations. I was so heartened that President Ramotar is going to look into the GPL generator rental incident. Dear Editor, please stop this ‘blaming the PNC’ game. Yes, the PNC did terrible, and that is why it was ousted. This is now the PPP era, and it must do better. I mean can President Obama mitigate with a Bush sophistry? No way!
So forget the “… sympathy with the people of the (Marshon) area, (and how) we wish to advise that squatting in the first place is a legacy of the former PNC government which ruled this country without a housing policy or a Ministry of Housing.” Minister Irfaan Ali has this responsibility. So far he has excelled, and if the tourism portfolio is taking a toll on him, then he needs to rethink his effectives. Maybe he needs to recruit a few more hard working people.
Now “Minister Irfaan Ali has (Indeed) … recognised the need for people to desist from squatting on all state reserves.” And indeed “when state reserves are used for squatting purposes, 9it) constitutes a breach of the laws of Guyana, and people should vacate same as quickly as possible.” However, does a thief stop stealing when he is left to ravage unimpeded? Will squatters just ‘root out’ after they have (foolishly and illegally invested) in ‘rooting down?’ So I implore that something be done, and be done now. Later on, since squatting is illegal, these residents will have to move. Then the job will be much more difficult, and it will also appear as if the government is cruel. A parallel scenario exists with many vendors. So I hope you get the point, Mr. Editor.
Now you are advising that we, the affected people “… lead a small delegation (perhaps the same three persons that penned the above letter) to the Ministry of Housing and explain … (the) plight to the minister who is a human and (who) would listen to (us). I ask very vehemently: Why? He and you know the reason. I ask for people to come and ‘see’ and ‘smell.’ Pictures were taken and the press published them. So tell me again why we should come. Wrong is wrong-full stop. Furthermore, I do not perceive the minister as some ‘errand boy.’ He has responsibilities. His duty in such a case is to designate (people and task). If he does not respond, then he is culpable of negligence. He is also causing the PPP to lose some good ground here. I mean the villagers are very upset.
I hope for some action please.

Editor’s note: We recognize your concern which was our reason for asking that you send a delegation to see the minister. We wish to advise you that we do understand your misery, and would be forwarding a copy of your letter to Minister Irfaan Ali.