– NDC trying to curb crime

By Vishani Ragobeer

THE squatters occupying lands belonging to GuySuCo at the Success and Chateau Margot areas on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) have resumed construction, even as squatting in these areas is still not permitted.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area on Thursday afternoon, the makeshift bridges made out of pieces of wood and tree branches were replaced with sand, creating a more stable pathway for persons to traverse. Farther along in the squatting area, two horse carts, a few motorbikes, and even a minibus were observed there. Since the bridge built by the squatters was demolished, vehicles were unable to get into this area.

Inside, building materials including concrete blocks, mesh, sand, and wood were seen on the road and on various plots of land. A sign advertising the sale of building materials and offering paid labour was hanging on a fenced plot of land. It was evident that construction had restarted and was even increasing. Squatters warned the Guyana Chronicle against taking photographs.

Squatters have been occupying lands that belong to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at Vryheid’s Lust, Success, and Chateau Margot for some months now. Recently, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) began streamlining the land applications of squatters occupying those lands unlawfully in an attempt to provide some redress.

Some 703 applicants have received some assistance and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves, told the Guyana Chronicle that priority will be given to those persons who have applied for house lots for a number of years now. These applicants will be able to occupy lands in 22 areas on the East Coast, East Bank, and West Bank of Demerara; Linden; Berbice, and Essequibo, where land preparation has been approved in the 2020 Emergency Budget.

Subsequently, officials from the CH&PA visited the area to take the names of persons living there. Minister of Housing and Water Colin Croal however emphasised that squatting here was a “no-no.”

It was reported that thousands of cane varieties have been destroyed through occupation of the land, resulting in a potential loss of billions of dollars in future cash flows for GuySuCo. An unquantifiable amount of data and research was also lost since the Success/ Chateau Margot squatting area was a research nursery for GuySuCo.

CURBING CRIME

As the housing authorities and GuySuCo still navigate this squatting situation, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Zaman Shaw indicated that the council has been trying to deal with reports of crime there.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Shaw indicated that he received complaints about theft and robberies and allegations of persons growing and smoking marijuana.

“We have already asked for there to be more police presence in the community now that action has been taken to remove the squatters,” Shaw said. He also related that there will be a follow-up meeting with the ‘C’ Division police next week, to deal specifically with the issues of theft.

A concern, however, has been that members of the police force themselves have been involved in the squatting. Zaman said he has received reports of police vehicles being used to transport materials for construction at Success.

Additionally, he related that a subvention of approximately G$1,000,000M (one million dollars) was given to the NDC through the 2020 emergency budget and part of that will be used to place street lights at “strategic points” on the ECD.

The NDC chairman related that while he is striving to curb crime in the area, he is not insensitive to the plight of some of the squatters. He believes that some of the squatters are genuinely in need, while others are trying to exploit the situation.

“Our position is that the right process must be followed and that those who are in real need must be given some sort of preference,” he said, adding that the NDC is committed to working with the ministry to validate who are the persons in need of assistance.

POLITICALLY ENCOURAGED

Shaw, however, bemoaned that many of the persons squatting on the land are being “politically encouraged” to stay there.

Sharing his sentiment was one resident of Success who complained against the actions of the squatters. This resident said, “Is only since March month after elections these squatters come here and around July month-end, or early August, plenty more people start coming here. So I believe that this is politically instigated.”

This resident has adopted several security measures because he is wary of theft. Another resident complained that her home was “cleared out” while several items were stolen from her neighbour. These residents allege that it was the squatters who stole the items.

Another resident complained that he has been unable to move freely, particularly on the weekends, as vehicles would block the narrow roads leading to the canal separating the squatting area from the rest of the Success area.

“I can’t [access} my yard, or go further[sic] in the side street because vehicles does line off the road here,” the resident said.