…1,148 lots being developed at Cummings Lodge, Industry for squatters
…joint anti-squatting taskforce being formed

A CALL by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson, to end squatting on government reserves was met by loud heckling and criticisms by the Parliamentary Opposition, although they were accused of encouraging it during their 23 years in office.

Patterson took a stand on the issue during her presentation on the opening day of the 2018 budget debates on Monday. She argued that the coalition–A partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration embarked on a journey towards “the good life,” inclusive of providing accessible and affordable housing in sanitary and safe communities, with the necessities for wholesome and dignified living for citizens in need.

Squatting, however, was touted as one of the issues that affect such progress, since some people squat out of desperation, but others do it as a means of economic gain. According to the Minister, those who do it for an economic gain, occupy a parcel of land; erect a structure and then rent it, in some instances, for as much as $30,000 per month. “Obviously these “landlords” must have other living options that they occupy. Another vexing dimension to this situation is that some of the squatters are in receipt of house lots,” lamented Patterson.

As the heckling continued on the side of the Opposition, one member of that side shouted, “What are you doing to address this?” but the Minister promptly responded “What did you do?” bringing silence to the room. She went on to explain her point by saying government is cognisant of the fact that squatting was allowed by the former Government for reasons left unsaid.

“But as a caring and responsible government, we have to and will fix it,” said Patterson, adding that in an effort to combat it, they have decided on a menu of measures which were recommended by community leaders.
One such measure was the idea of a Joint Anti-Squatting Taskforce that is being formed and, according to the Minister, will include major stakeholders such as the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.

Amidst an uproar from the Opposition in the National Assembly, the minister announced that discussions are ongoing regarding the development of approximately 1,148 lots at Plantations Cummings Lodge and Industry for the possible relocation of squatters from constituencies 5 and 6 reserves, as well as from other zero tolerance areas in Georgetown and its environs.

She argued that 405 lots were formally allocated to squatters after payments were made. Approximately 2,025 persons reportedly benefited from this.
Minister Patterson said 190 persons paid at least 50 per cent of the cost of their lots and signed to commence processing for their titles, while 290 titles were already issued to persons in areas under regularisation.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), over which the Minister has oversight, is expected to continuously work with the relevant agencies to complete the process of home-ownership. She boasted that so far they have processed Transports and Certificates of Title for 1,962 applicants and distributed 3,227 since the Government’s ascension to office in 2015. Some of those applicants were reportedly on the waiting list for over 27 years.

The minister went on to point out that they have done 690 interviews, issued 661 letters and completed verification exercise for 240 householders in Plantation Mt. Sinai, popularly known as Agony’s Avenue.
Similarly, she said 104 householders in Middle Road La Penitence were interviewed; 316 in Timehri North; and 77 lots were verified for allocation and the occupiers issued with letters in Crane/Best, (West Coast Demerara).

“I don’t know if I can adequately convey to this House the expression of joy on the faces of those persons when they realized that they were one step closer to becoming home-owners. But the expression was priceless. As in the case of the other areas, this exercise will be continued, as we continue this journey,” said the Minister.

Persons from the hinterland have also been beneficiaries of housing through the sustainable housing for the Hinterland Programme, funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In addition, the CH&PA distributed over 69 housing areas within Georgetown; Linden; Bartica; Union-Naarstigheid; Blairmont-Gelderland; Woodley Park-Bath and Tuschen-Uitvlugt.

Minister Patterson did not fail to highlight the Housing Solutions Exhibition that took place in May this year at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (ECD). The exhibition reportedly captured the government’s focus for its housing programme which seeks to improve the housing delivery system, with an emphasis on low to middle income earners, state employees and youths.

It featured a cluster of 25 houses in a Model Village, where CHPA built 6 duplexes and 2 single elevated houses. She emphasised the CH&PA’s effort to add more houses to the existing set at Perseverance. An additional 8 houses were constructed in the model village.
The CH&PA is also in the process of constructing 18 bungalow 2 bedroom units; 40 flat concrete duplexes; 50 elevated concrete 2 bedroom units; 15 flat concrete 2 bedroom units and 15 flat concrete 3 bedroom units at Perseverance.

Nigel Dharamlall, a Member of Parliament from the Opposition bench said they are not in support of the duplexes, since persons have reportedly reacted negatively to those houses although persons evidently took up residence in them.
“Youths want their own houses, not any half house,” said Dharamlall, adding that the Opposition and Guyanese would prefer the single unit houses.
Patterson, however, argued that the Government has left “no stone unturned” in the quest to make housing affordable.

In an effort to validate this point, she referred to the 2018 budget, which outlined that a tax exemption of the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was proposed for housing units costing up to $6.5M that are built by or on behalf of CH&PA or any other approved entity.