HOUSING has always been an item of consumer concern world-wide. All governments of Guyana, from colonial times, have been engaged in housing activity and indeed, so has been the private sector.

Recently, as soon as the new government came into office and even before they had time to settle down, several hundreds of persons, especially on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara began to invade government lands, ostensibly to claim house lots for themselves.

This attempt to seize government property is of course illegal, and what makes the theft even more serious, is that it is state property which was being stolen. If there had not been a strong riposte to this invasion of state property, it could have embarrassed and made government appear to be weak.

Though some of the squatters had a genuine need, it is reported that many, as is usually the case, were motivated by strong greed to get hold of land on which to speculate and several members of the same family were engaged in this squatting exercise in an organised way.

In addition of this theft for speculation, squatting results in severe social and environmental problems by squatters occupying areas where roads, drains, water connections, playgrounds, schools, health facilities and electricity poles should be.

Fortunately, President Granger has firmly declared that such squatting was illegal and that his government would never condone such illegality and he required the police to take necessary action.

The police have started doing their duty of clearing away the squatters and the public looks forward to the police reporting that all squatters have been removed. It is surprising that the police have not charged anyone despite the fact that large numbers of squatters have been caught on videos, have given interviews to the media and could be easily identified. If some squatters are charged by the police, this would act both as a warning and a deterrent.

In due course, house lot development and distribution would be done and everyone would have the opportunity of applying. Such development would have proper infrastructure and be environmentally friendly. The quality of life would be improved and land speculation would have been avoided.

But government must nip in the bud all future attempts at squatting and the police and the Courts must he prepared to deal condignly with the disease of squatting.

By Pat Dial