President Irfaan Ali in a live video on Facebook yesterday berated the opposition for encouraging Mocha squatters to defy attempts by the Ministry of Housing and Water to move them to make way for a road. Ali categorized the opposition’s actions as irresponsible, political opportunism and a lack of leadership. The Facebook video was done after the Ministry demolished seven houses at the Mocha squatting area yesterday after several months of trying to reach an accommodation. Ali stated, “For the last couple of weeks we have been publishing for everyone to see in a very open transparent way, all that we have done to have a seamless and smooth movement of those who were illegally on the reserve. So that a road can be completed that will bring relief to tens of thousands of Guyanese.”
He pointed out that the area is the government reserve, however some 28 families who were occupying the area have thus far relocated. Additionally, through the government compensation programme, new houses were built for them. Ali noted that there are seven individuals who remained non-compliant and in doing so they had stalled efforts to complete the development.
These were the persons whose dwellings were torn down yesterday. “The ministry has offered them to relocate in completed homes on legal land which they will have titles, which would increase their net value, which they can take to the bank and have a loan free of cost. The ministry has offered them and the offer remains as I speak to you, to move into these communities, into homes to have a better life.
We offered them through the Lands and Survey, lands so that they can plant and farm if they are farmers and they want to plant not withstanding all of this. Moving from illegality to legality from unstructured to structured, from no net value to net value.” The seven names and valuations offered to the remaining squatters were published by the ministry in yesterday’s Stabroek News. “What is offered to each of them in a very open and transparent way, so there is no political mileage or opportunism that can be extracted from this. I ask and I urge these families not be used as political tools and pawns of a few who are only angry by the development of our country. Aren’t they thinking about the value that will come to every house in Mocha now with this new highway, the net value of every home will increase, the net worth of every citizen will increase?
Ali asked. Ali extended the government’s support to the families that are now displaced after their houses were bulldozed. “To the seven families, this government stand ready to welcome and take you into your new homes and to remove you from the illegally occupied reserve and to give you a better life. Choose wisely, think wisely and do not be used opportunistically for any political messaging or narrative… We look forward to bringing you into your new homes.”
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and some of his Members of Parliament had expressed solidarity with the squatters and urged them to stand their ground.
