Squatter settlements regularisation programme moving ahead
-- Baksh visits several areas in Region Three
Guyana Chronicle
July 12, 2004
GINA - Government is moving ahead aggressively to regularise squatter settlements throughout the country. Last Saturday, Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh today visited several squatting areas in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), and held discussions with residents.
The Minister and a team of officials from the Ministry visited squatter settlements at Patentia, Belle Vue, Plastic City, Best Foreshore, Edinburgh, Wine Bush, De Groot En Klyne and Chateau's Land.
Minister Baksh outlined Government's plans for the areas now under the squatter regularisation programme. Approximately 145 squatting areas are under a programme being carried out by the Ministry. Baksh noted that basic services, including water, roads, bridges and electricity cannot be installed unless the areas are regularised.
The Minister outlined the electrification programme to come on stream shortly. Through a Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (GoG/IDB) programme, Guyana will soon benefit from assistance with providing electricity to housing areas. But only old housing areas will be included in the first phase of the programme. Other areas would have to wait their turn or could work along with Government to install electricity in their communities. For this they would have to pay a beneficiary contribution.
Patentia
At the Patentia squatting area, West Bank Demerara, persons are said to have squatted on a part of a cemetery and will have to be removed when a survey is done. The Minister told residents that by the end of August the problem should be sorted out.
Many residents have also squatted on land belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and the Ministry will be negotiating with the sugar company to have the land transferred to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to be turned into a housing scheme. When the survey is done, a plan will be drawn and houses in the area will be numbered. The area is receiving water through two stand-pipes installed by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).
Belle Vue
At the Belle Vue squatter settlement, residents are experiencing problems with their water supply. The Minister told residents that the Ministry, along with a committee from the area will be approaching the Government-funded agencies, including the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) for assistance in rehabilitating the well. If this cannot be done, then a new well will be constructed.
Plastic City
At Plastic City, or part of the Best Foreshore, residents have occupied plots of land along the sea dam and reserve and have built houses there. The Sea Defence Board will be discussing the matter to decide whether people would have to be relocated.
The area was already surveyed and the Ministry needs clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue its work. The area is receiving potable water supply through the installation of four standpipes. Minister Baksh assured residents that should they be relocated, the Ministry will allocate them lots in the Parfaite/Harmonie Housing Scheme.
Best Foreshore
People in this area are also living on the sea dam and parts of the cemetery. The Ministry has already done a block survey, numbered the lots and prepared a design for the area. Persons on the sea defence will have to be relocated.
The Minister advised that the Public Health Department will be asked to visit the area and assess whether the burial ground is suitable for living, since that part is used to bury persons who would have died from tuberculosis (TB). Baksh advised residents not to allow others to squat on the land there, since it would make the regularisation process more difficult.
Edinburgh
The Minister told residents there that in order to ensure that the regularisation process moves forward smoothly, they would have to cooperate with the Ministry. Many adjustments will have to be made to build a roadway. The Committee in the area will be working with the Ministry closely to ensure that persons who are required to shift their fences do so.
Persons living on the reserve will have to be relocated. The lots have been numbered already and the area has potable water. The Ministry has allowed GWI to install house-to-house connections to allow people access to this basic service.
Wine Bush
At Wine Bush, the Minister stated that the area is more advanced than others, since the plan was completed and palls have already been laid down. The plan will shortly be registered with the Lands and Surveys Commission after which letters of allocation will be given to residents to start the conveyance process.
Persons would be required to pay $60,000 for their lots, along with a small surveying fee. In an effort to provide additional assistance, the Ministry of Housing and Water has reduced the processing fee for land titles from $12,000 to $8,000. And instead of paying the entire amount at once, as was previously required, persons can now pay $4,000 to start processing the title, with another three months to pay the remaining $4,000.
De Groot En Klyne
Here persons will be required to move their fences to allow for the construction of pathways to allow persons access to the area. The Minister told residents that the plan will be adjusted within one month, and persons will be advised on what to do.
Chateau's Land
Here persons have squatted on land, which belongs to GUYSUCO. The Ministry applied for and was given the land to be regularised into a housing area. The plan will be done within one month after which the sub division plan will be drawn up.