Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal says a team from his ministry will visit the Parika Sea Dam next month to advise squatters there on how they can find suitable housing.
The Minister’s statement follows a report in the Sunday Stabroek of December 25th on the circumstances of squatters on the sea dam. Some said that their families had been there for 40 years.
In a telephone interview with Stabroek News on Wednesday, Croal pointed out that the area being occupied by the squatters is sea defence reserve. He asserted that the sea defence must be maintained. “It’s about doing the right thing, they can apply for house lots. There is a regional office in Region Three [where] they can visit the office. We cannot regularize the sea defence.”
Governments over the last few decades have routinely removed squatters from sensitive areas and offered housing options. It is unclear why those on the Parika Sea Dam had not been tackled by the government, Region Three council or the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in the area.
When asked about possible jobs for the squatters, Croal referenced the construction sector and the part-time job initiative offered by the government.
“We have contractors who need men to work with them. We don’t have enough men to build all the houses and they can visit the office in Region Three and access the opportunity of the part time jobs offered. I doubt that there are no jobs available that they can’t access.”
Croal added that his team will visit the area next month since it is almost the end of the year. “I will have my team visit them to do the right thing, it’s about doing the right thing. One can’t be doing the wrong and expect support, it is the sea defence.”
The residents stated in the Sunday Stabroek report that they are struggling to make ends meet and many are not sure where their next meal would come from. They live in run-down houses, while some have roofs with holes, some use tarpaulin. In the story they all shared their hopes of one day being able to wave poverty good-bye despite the challenges faced.
