By Telesha Ramnarine

A NUMBER of councillors on Monday suggested that the National Capital Planning Commission establish a specific committee to deal with the issue of squatting in Georgetown.Approximately 1,000 families are currently occupying Council reserves.

The commission, expected to become a reality shortly, would see a structured approach being utilised for the development of Guyana’s capital. President David Granger had suggested its establishment when he visited the City Council recently.

Each councillor was afforded the opportunity to voice his/her ideas about what should make up the Terms of Reference (ToRs) at an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting that was called by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

Councillor Heston Bostwick revealed at the exploratory meeting that on the West Ruimveldt Front Road (Hunter Street to Vlissengen Road), there are 218 families squatting; from Vlissengen Road to Mandela Avenue, 175 families; at Container City, 85 families; and at Side Line Dam, 80 families.

“A commission of this nature should seek to have committees that will look at the question of squatting and omit the thought of removing squatters; rather, say relocate them. And just saying “relocate them” will tell you it has to be done in a particular manner.”

Bostwick is proposing that the committee work in collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).

“You will be able to know who definite, legitimate squatters are, and who are not.”

The councillor observed that over the years, many persons who were residing on the council’s reserves had been allocated house lots, but have chosen to remain squatting.

“So I am proposing that the committee look at all issues dealing with squatting, primarily around the city, and come up with a plan whereby land can be allocated to those who have applications at the Ministry of Housing,” Bostwick offered.

He urged that a proper arrangement be put in place for the relocation exercise.

“We don’t want a situation where we go bulldozing people’s places.”

The Mayor offered that Bostwick’s figures do not include squatters in other locations of the city such as Towler’s Dam, which starts from Mandela Avenue to the Tucville Bridge and beyond, going to North Ruimveldt.

She said they also do not take in behind Laing Avenue and behind the Chinese Embassy on Mandela Avenue. “So we are looking at approximately 1000 families,” she calculated.

Councillors Sophia Whyte, Monica Thomas, Trichria Richards, Desiree Liverpool, Lyndon Hilliman, and Yvonne Ferguson also raised the issue of squatting.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk Royston King noted that the commission’s ToR should first be determined by the Council, as those would provide answers to a number of issues raised by councillors, including squatting.

“We might want to include the University of Guyana, Ministry of Public Health, Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Guyana Water Inc, the Guyana Fire Service, Ministry of Communities,and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. All these must be part of the commission; but whether we will have a one-man commission and these persons are used as resource personnel or whether we will have them be part of the actual commission is what this council must determine,” King offered.

He said the council will have to determine how much the commissioners would be paid.

“This council will have to pay for the commission. The commission, though independent in its work, will be subordinate to this council. The commission will have no power of its own, but will have the power that is given to it by this council.”
Councillors have one week to make their ideas about the commission known to the Town Clerk, after which King will have two weeks to formulate a draft proposal, circulate it to councillors, and then place it on the agenda for discussion at the following statutory meeting.