–President Ali tells squatters

–urges them to work with gov’t to relocate to safer, healthier living conditions

REITERATING his government’s commitment to ensuring a high standard of living for each citizen, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, said squatters in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will be relocated to better living conditions.
On Saturday, the President made an impromptu visit to the community where he spoke to some of the squatters and urged them to work with the government.

“I want the best for you all. This can’t be the best. By improving this, is by us having you all living in safe and healthy conditions [for] your children and everybody,” the Head of State said.
The President highlighted that some of these squatters received houselots but have sold them while others have the lots but haven’t moved. As such, several government agencies such as the Ministries of Housing and Water and Local Government and Regional Development will be conducting an assessment and deciding the way forward.
The Head of State said: “Together, we will build better for you.”

He also stated that landowners have access to the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s steel and cement programme which assists by subsidising the cost for the building materials.
Notably, houselots in the Stewartville Housing Scheme were distributed to several families who were squatting on land at the Zeelugt Sideline Dam in 2022.
The move was aimed at enhancing both the squatters’ living conditions and the surroundings of Zeelugt. The housing project had first-phase utilities and infrastructure, including water, drainage, and roadways.

Minister within the Office of the President, Kwame McCoy, previously said that the PPP/C administration’s focus is people-centred, based on an understanding that development must be for all, especially given the unique transformative opportunities that Guyana has seen in recent years.
The minister said the government’s approach to development is felt across all sectors of the economy, particularly the housing sector, which has a programme that has been revitalised with the return of the PPP/C’s administration to office.

The approach to housing development is not more squatting; it never was, and will never be, he affirmed.
According to Minister McCoy: “Ordinary Guyanese were punished, as there were no attempts to address the financial disparity in homeownership. Instead, the ‘Coalition’ focused on enriching themselves, their families, and a few of their elite friends.
“A mere 5,000 house lots were distributed during the five years of the APNU+AFC administration. During this period, the coalition also gifted acres of commercial land, twice the size of Barbados, to its few friends.”

Since returning to office in 2020, after fending off an undemocratic attempt to rig the elections, Dr Ali has delineated a pragmatic and inclusive agenda that addresses the decades-old issue of squatting through the opening up new lands for affordable housing development, with accompanying infrastructural works to ensure roads, water and electricity are provided.
He reiterated that the PPP/C has a proven track record of addressing squatting.

“Government’s thrust is to end squatting by providing avenues to legal homeownership,” the minister affirmed.
A total of 30,406 houselots were distributed within three years since the PPP/C government assumed office. For 2023, there were 8,578 residential lots allocated. Out of the 30,406 house lots allocated, 28,368 of them were residential.