The Ministry of Housing and Water is engaging in an aggressive campaign to remove squatters from the land aback the Caricom Secretariat at Liliendaal.
Over the past week several persons had begun squatting in the area. Many of them said they had been told that the land was available for occupancy. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Minister Irfaan Ali disputes these claims and plans to meet with the squatters today to discuss the matter.
In an interview with GINA the minister said squatting on the said land “is completely illegal; we have not allocated any lot in this area. There are no plans of establishing any housing establishment within the area that the squatters invaded.”
GINA said the ministry has been clearing the area since Monday and as of Wednesday it had removed all markings on the land and persons were told of the repercussions of squatting. “We would like to tell the people out there that squatting is illegal. If you go there in the first instance we will remove you but if persons continue to go there we will have to charge them,” he said.
The squatters were also advised of the procedure for obtaining legal house lots. Ali said ministry investigations have revealed that “a group of mischievous persons are misleading others into the setting up squatting settlements in the area.” He said the ministry will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that persons desist from this practice.
Ali said the area has been earmarked for several developmental purposes including the construction of an Amerindian hostel and the establishment of the Olympic association’s head office. He said too a portion of land near the Secretariat will remain vacant for security purposes.
