The Ministry of Housing and Water – Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has announced that a total of 64 individuals have been allotted house lots so far for the year 2024, as efforts are being made to relocate squatters along the East Bank Demerara river dam. The ministry is urging cooperation from the settlers as the process continues.
According to a notice published in yesterday’s Guyana Times newspaper, an inventory exercise conducted since 2021 revealed that a total of 291 settlers were residing along the river dam in communities such as Herstelling, Farm, Covent Garden, Prospect, Diamond, Grove, and Friendship. Out of this number, 50% have been allocated land in housing schemes, while some were provided with homes.
The ministry noted that some individuals who were residing along the dam had already been allocated land and therefore had no need to squat. Despite efforts to relocate the remaining settlers, it said, approximately 50 individuals have refused to engage with the agency.
The notice stated that relocation was necessary as the river dams were designated “zero-tolerance squatting zones” and were unsuitable for housing development. Continued occupation of these areas obstructs access and drainage works, leading to potential flooding. This further poses significant risks to the residents, particularly young children.
Actions had been taken since January 2021, including inventory exercises and encouraging settlers to apply for house lots at the Ministry of Housing and Water, the notice said. Further, house-to-house applications were afforded on weekends to assist those unable to visit the office during regular operating hours, the notice said.
Further measures were implemented to ensure the relocation process progressed smoothly. It was stated that in January 2023, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, CH&PA CEO Sherwyn Greaves, and representatives of the Sea and River Defence Board engaged with informal settlers to emphasise the urgency and necessity of relocation. Greaves met with the settlers again in March 2023, while a second wave of verification was conducted from April to July 2023. This resulted in the allocation of land to the first batch of 86 individuals at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara in October 2023. December 2023 saw 25 individuals allocated homes, and in January 2024, an additional 64 individuals were allocated land. The final round of allocations is scheduled for the end of this month, the notice said.
Throughout this period, follow-up engagements were conducted to encourage residents to apply and emphasised the importance of relocation. A total of 36 structures have been demolished, with ongoing demolitions as part of the agency’s zero-tolerance policy. The ministry, through the CH&PA, said it was dedicated to improving living standards and urged immediate compliance with the relocation measures. Failure to comply will result in the forceful removal of settlers.
Meanwhile, in recent lot identification exercises conducted by the ministry, more than 100 allottees of Phase 4, Amelia’s Ward, Linden, were invited on January 24, 2024, to identify their plots. On January 20, more than 50 low-income allottees of Block EP, Enterprise new scheme, East Coast Demerara, were also invited for lot identification.
In addition, the first batch of allottees at Golden Grove Block 9 and Block 11, East Bank Demerara, participated in the lot identification exercises on January 19. Moreover, over 160 moderate-income landowners in Enterprise, Hope, and La Reconnaissance Housing Schemes on the East Coast Demerara identified their house lots on January 18.
