THE authorities in Linden have called on residents in the mining town to desist from squatting, since it is not only illegal, but also poses serious health problems.
Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland said squatting is becoming a serious issue and is calling on the administration to look into the matter.

“We have to discourage persons from squatting and so on, some persons are squatting at areas that are very dangerous,” Holland said, alluding to squatting on Danju Hill, Wismar.
“Recently, Council had to come down on some structures going up on Danju Hill, people are squatting, we had to break down some of the houses and it is at the edge of a hill and it poses a danger to them, so we want to discourage persons from squatting around the town… it is becoming a serious issue to look at.”
A squatting area in Amelia’s Ward is also experiencing widespread erosion as a result of a sandpit operation.

“While many of the Amelia’s Ward squatters took up dwelling on the lands, almost three decades now, their properties are now being threatened by severe erosion as a result of a sand pit operation though deemed illegal.” Holland, while agreeing that the sand-mining should stop, also made mention that the residents are living on unregulated territory.
Residents of Andyville have been criticised by Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira for squatting around an industrial zone where they are exposed to the noise and dust from nearby sawmills.
During that meeting in which Commissioner of Guyana Lands and Surveys Trevor Benn was present, the residents pleaded for land, saying that they were forced to take up residence in unregulated areas.
Only recently, residents who were allocated houselots by Minister of Communities Valarie Patterson-Yearwood, complained that their lands were occupied by persons who were farming and living on it illegally.

Minister Patterson condemned the actions of these persons. Land-owners have also said that the squatters were also abusive to them.
She promised to let the police intervene into the matter and evict the squatters. Minister Patterson visited Linden last Tuesday to deal with the issue, and met with many angry residents who demanded that something be done earliest to have the squatters removed.
Patterson revealed that the squatters removed the palls that were placed by the Ministry’s surveyors. Those persons would have to break down their properties, though some are permanent structures. Some of the lands that persons squatted on will also be used to facilitate the building of 60 housing units in Amelia’s Ward, which will commence shortly.
A decision was made to squash the duplex units projects after major consultation in which residents say they prefer single houses. Thirty two bedroom houses will be built on stilts, while 30 will be flat houses. The costs of the houses are $5.1 M and $6.1 M. Some residents were already given letters to be taken to banks so that they can prequalify for mortgages.