– says Housing and Water Minister, calls action ‘malicious and reckless’

HOUSING and Water Minister, Collin Croal, has deemed statements made by former minister in the APNU+AFC Government, Annette Ferguson, regarding squatting on GuySuCo’s lands as “malicious and reckless” even as he reminds her that squatting is illegal.

Squatters have been occupying lands that belong to GuySuCo at Vryheid’s Lust, Success, and Chateau Margot for some months now. The minister had met with these squatters twice, urging them to desist from squatting on the lands and encouraging them to follow the established procedures for land application. Recently, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) held an outreach activity at the Chateau Margot Primary school to streamline the land application process for those persons.

On Thursday, former minister with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, said the current People’s Progressive Party Government must discontinue efforts to remove the squatters from the lands and instead work to regularise the areas.

She bemoaned the plight of the squatters who indicated that they have been forced to squat because they have no other alternative.

Minister Croal, in a statement on Thursday night, said Ferguson’s comments were geared at inciting confusion among the squatters on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and indeed, throughout Guyana. He also reminded of his ministry’s efforts to provide redress and streamline the processes while emphasising that the rule of law must be followed.

“The sensible thing to do is to discourage persons from squatting and to encourage them to acquire land using the legitimate process in place by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA),” he said in the statement to the media. “A citizen’s right to land must not be obscured by his or her obligation to follow the rule of law.”

Furthermore, he reminded that the former minister herself had spoken out against the illegal occupation of lands.

CARING APPROACH

“Since the matter was brought to my attention, myself and my ministry have adopted a caring approach and have dealt with the situation with the highest level of respect and integrity,” Croal said. In a bid to sensibly address the situation, the minister pointed out that he and several stakeholders met with the squatters, both on the ground and at the ministry’s offices. Now, the matter is in the remit of GuySuCo and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

“The Housing Ministry will continue working with residents to relocate where necessary and regularise where possible,” he said.

Though cognisant of the ministry’s efforts to streamline the squatters’ quest for lawful homeownership, Ferguson insisted that the lands should be regularised and adequate infrastructure should be inputted. She also claimed that the APNU+AFC Government intended to set up a National Squatter Resettling Commission, with the aim of ending squatting in their second term.

Squatting has been an issue that has plagued successive governments, but the PPP/C government has committed to making 50,000 house lots available over the next five years.

Croal called on the former ‘Coalition’ minister to refrain from inciting “anarchy” by exploiting the squatting situation as a political tool and reassured the public of the ministry’s continued efforts to make housing affordable under a PPP/C Government.

These include the mortgage interest relief for low and middle-income homeowners as well as increasing the limit for low-income loans, and the reversal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on building materials where it was imposed. Under the ministry’s 2020 work programme, the clearing of lands and construction of access bridges in a number of new housing areas have also commenced.

“These measures are geared at giving increased access and availability to financing for homeownership to every eligible citizen. It is part of the Government’s continued drive to increase the disposable income of every household which will increase cash in hand and improve living conditions,” the housing minister related.