Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, yesterday handed over the keys for ready-to-move in two-bedroom homes to nine families who were squatting on the Annandale Sea Defence Reserve, East Coast Demerara.
A Ministry of Housing and Water press release stated that the homes were part of a commitment by President Irfaan Ali last year following a visit to the area.
Ali had observed the poor living conditions of the families. Each home was built at a cost of $5 million and the families were engaged by commercial banks for funding for the construction of their homes.
The statement said that of the total of fifteen households that occupied the zero-tolerance area, ten families opted for the homes, while five opted for lands to construct their homes. Croal, according to the statement, said that the government is addressing squatting nationwide and no new squatting will be accepted. The statement said that the families were urged to do the ‘right thing’ and work with government. The relocation process was facilitated by the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Community Development Department.
