THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) administration aims to continue to improve the lives of Guyanese at breakneck speed. During a recent campaign rally in Region Three at the Leonora athletics stadium, President David Granger made a pledge to end squatting in Guyana. The President promised to do this by establishing a National Squatter Resettlement Commission on March 15, 2020, if his administration is re-elected in the upcoming March 2, 2020 Regional and General elections.
The President boldly stated that “by the time the APNU+AFC Government finishes its next tour of duty, there will be no ‘Plastic City’ in Region Three.” ‘Plastic City’ is the name given to the squatter settlement at Vreed-en-Hoop which houses a number of its constituents. The area currently has no access to electricity, potable water and lacks basic sanitation such as drainage and irrigation. ‘Plastic City’ is among 150 squatter settlements which developed over the course of the PPP/C’s 23-year tenure in office.

The resultant rise in homelessness and squatter settlements under the PPP/C administration is a clear indication that Guyanese were enduring difficult socio-economic conditions. There are many causes for homelessness, some of which are onerous upon the affected individual and some come about as a result of actions occurring outside of the control of the affected individual. The loss of a job, partner, home – through fire or flooding are all potential causes of homelessness and affected individuals should have been able to seek redress for their issues by the relevant government agency. Instead however, support was not forthcoming and many individuals and families had to fend for themselves in whatever way they could to survive.

The President’s pledge to end squatting does not come without realisation that a better alternative must be provided for the affected residents. The poorly developed slums can be eradicated; however, the rehousing of its residents into proper homes and communities remains a priority for the David Granger administration. Under the President’s proposed initiative, affected residents would either be relocated to proper homes and communities, or those areas where they have been squatting would be converted into proper homes and communities.

We have only recently started to see the fruits of a similar initiative which started in 2017, when the present administration allocated some $43 million dollars to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA). This, combined with resources from Food For The Poor (Guyana) led to the construction of 20 homes for residents who had been squatting at Lombard and Broad Streets in Charlestown for a number of years, many of whom were families with young children. The presentation of the homes at Prospect, East Bank Demerara, represented the first phase of the handover exercise. A total of 72 homes will be built and presented to affected residents and families upon completion of the initiative.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority is already targeting approximately 173 squatter settlements as part of their attempt to address the issue. The introduction of a National Squatter Resettlement Commission goes a long way in furthering this cause. The commission’s goal should therefore be to eliminate squatting and homelessness in Guyana by providing families with homes and land, so that they are then able to work, go to school and obtain a decent and comfortable standard of living for themselves.

Guyana has a number of societal issues, some of which are intergenerational and require careful planning and intervention to curb their continued prevalence. On the other hand, some societal issues are born out of negligence and weak governance. While the former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali is yet to account for the drastic rise of squatter settlements during his time in that position, concerned citizens should note the relative speed with which the present administration has been taking steps to drastically address their inherited workload. Housing and homelessness should not be one of those societal issues. Our nation is vast, bountiful and there is enough room for all of us to live comfortably, safely and sustainably.

The Guyana constitution guarantees that every citizen has the right to proper housing accommodation. The realisation of this fundamental right cannot be overstated enough for it affects the proper realisation of other closely connected socio-economic rights. The right to proper housing, electricity, water and sanitation are necessary if one is to successfully participate in, and, contribute to their society. Homelessness is one scourge that cannot be allowed to continue to degrade and hinder the progress of our nation and its peoples.