… says assistant city engineer

HEAVY rainfall on Wednesday resulted in the closure of Hunter Street, Albouystown, a main road used by motorists leading to the East Bank Demerara.
The street and surrounding area were severely flooded out, causing authorities to erect a sign at Hunter and Sussex Streets, re-directing traffic.

Although all four pumps in Georgetown are operable at the moment, Assistant City Engineer Rasheed Kellman told this publication that squatting impedes the work of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) when it comes to getting certain drains and canals cleaned.
For instance, the squatters on Front Road, West Ruimveldt, pose a challenge to the M&CC in getting the canal behind them cleaned. This, in turn, contributes to flooding in the catchment area, he said.

“We don’t get to clean it the way we want to because of the heavy build-up of vegetation and squatting on the reserves,” he said during an interview at City Hall.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson, had promised to bring squatting on government reserves to an end. She noted that the coalition government has 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. Others, though, do it as a means of economic gain.
According to the minister, those who do it for 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 a caring and responsible government, we have to and will fix it,” said Patterson, adding that in an effort to combat the issue of squatting, they have decided on a number of measures which were recommended by community leaders.

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.

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.