The Housing and Water Ministry in Guyana is set to tackle the issue of squatting in certain areas, emphasizing the need for immediate attention.
Minister Collin Croal, in a recent press conference, expressed concern about the situation in specific locations and outlined the ministry’s plans for regularization.
Since 2020, the government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), has identified 21 informal settlements.
Out of these, regularisation exercises have been completed in 13 areas, with the ministry targeting the remaining eight settlements in the upcoming year.
Minister Croal highlighted collaboration with the Lands and Surveys Commission to consolidate scattered squatters along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
The initiative aims to address existing areas on the highway, creating 500 lots for a relocation process.
Additionally, the ministry will focus on the removal of squatters along the East Bank Demerara River, affecting at least 285 households along various locations.
The goal is to relocate these households to address the issue of unregulated settlements along the riverbank.
These actions align with the ministry’s broader strategy to curb unregulated settlements and address the pressing issue of squatting.
The approach reflects a commitment to organized urban development and land management.
In the previous year, the Housing Ministry engaged with families in these areas, facilitating the lodging of applications for house lots and the registration of interest in turnkey homes or residential lots.
As the ministry prioritizes regularization and relocation efforts, these initiatives seek to establish organized and sustainable urban development practices in the region.