Squatters at various points along the East Bank Demerara sea defence reserve are to be relocated within six months, according to the CHPA.
A release from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) yesterday said that 317 structures including 57 owned by Venezuelan immigrants are on the reserves at Little Diamond (15 structures), Great Diamond (49 structures), Grove (96 structures), Herstelling Sea Dam (86 structures), Farm Sea Dam (45 structures) and Covent Garden (7 structures).
Of the 317 structures, close to thirty are unoccupied. Monitoring will be done at the area and no new structures will be allowed, the CHPA said.
In keeping with a commitment by President Irfaan Ali, the informal settlers were engaged yesterday on the relocation by the Ministry of Housing and Water’s CHPA and the Ministry of Public Works’ – Sea and River Defence Board at the Little Diamond/Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Chief Executive Officer of CHPA, Sherwyn Greaves; Chairman of the Sea and River Defence Board, Gary Beaton; and Chairman of the Little Diamond/Herstelling NDC, Puneet Jaigopaul were present.
The reserves, which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Public Works are regarded as ‘zero-tolerance’ areas and are therefore unsuitable for housing development, the release said.
Croal stated that the relocation process is expected to be completed within the next six months. The Minister also asserted that the government’s response to squatting is not based on race or politics but rather on assessments carried out by the Ministry and other agencies to determine whether regularisation or relocation is the best option.
The relocation and resettlement programme will provide the informal settlers with four main housing options:
Existing turn-key housing units will be made available.
An area at Great Diamond replete with the necessary infrastructure works is earmarked for persons who are desirous of building homes.
Land allocations at other schemes.
Venezuelan immigrants will be assisted with building through the Men on Mission (MOM) initiative.
Greaves said that each household will be provided with the necessary help to facilitate their relocation to “wholesome” housing schemes. The squatters were able to register for the house lots and housing units during yesterday’s exercise. Officials from the New Building Society, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Demerara Bank Limited, Citizens Bank and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry were also on the ground pre-qualifying persons for the homes.
Vanessa Deonarine, who has been living in the area for close to six years, stated that the relocation would be a significant improvement for children and others residing along the reserve.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us on the sea dam because when the rain is falling the place is very muddy like slush and then the kids have to go through that every day to go to school,” Deonarine stated.
Father of two Jitendra Denanauth, also stated that it would be a dream come true for his family to become legal landowners. They have been living in the area for approximately five years.
“It will be a privilege getting your own house lot because where we living isn’t too nice because when the rain falling the place does be so muddy. When the kids going out to school and thing they shoes does nasty […] every day they wake up they’re always talking that they want move into their own home,” Denanauth said.
Squatters are on the sea defence reserve in other areas. Stabroek News recently featured the experiences of those on the Parika Sea Dam who are hoping that the authorities will relocate them to another area.
