More squatters move into Government shelter

More families have moved into the Graham’s Hall Primary School at Cummingslodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) where the Government has set up a shelter for those affected by the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) move to flood lands at Success, ECD.

According to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), a total of twelve persons inclusive of seven males and five females. Among them are three children – two girls and one boy –whom the Ministry of Education said it will provide educational materials and assistance for.

CDC’s Director General Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig continues to appeal to those affected by the flooding at Success to immediately contact the National Emergency Management System (NEMS) on 226-1114, 623-1700 and 600-7500 and make their way to the Graham’s Hall Primary School, Cummings Lodge ECD, where they will be housed.

The facility was prepared on October 17 as a temporary emergency shelter following a decision by the state-owned GuySuCo to flood the lands in preparation for sugarcane cultivation.

The CDC said 40 of the squatters who moved onto the lands after several estates were closed, indicated that they needed shelter.

Some of the squatters were again engaged in a standoff with the police on Wednesday as another part of the land was reportedly being flooded.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government on assuming office in August 2020, began preparations to reopen sugar estates closed by its predecessor which included flooding the land to start back cultivation. The Government made several moves before this to have the squatters removed but some have criticized the way in which the matter was handled.