Squatting along Demerara River, Linden Highway ‘out of hand’ but regularisation underway – Croal

Almost immediately, the Ministry of Housing and Water will be moving to address the issue of squatting across the country with specific emphasis on the banks of the Demerara River, between Herstelling and Diamond, East Bank Demerara and the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal told reporters on Wednesday that the issue, particularly on the highway, was now “out of hand” but he hopes that by the end of the first quarter, efforts to bring the situation under control will be visible.

Some 285 households along the Demerara River are to be relocated and many more on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

“Our position has been consistent… there will be no recognition of any new settlement, any new squatting.

“However, we have recognised and have database for what exist… when we came [into government in 2020], we met 21 recognized informal settlements,” Croal noted.

He said to date the government has completed regularizing 13 of the 21 and another eight will be targeted in the 2024 programme.

Croal was specific to identify what is happening on the river bank between Herstelling and Diamond.

He said those persons have been engaged and while some opted for lands in the Diamond area, others are benefiting directly from the housing programme.

Allocations have already begun and will continue over the next four months with persons already prequalified before the banks for loans.

Similarly, work is ongoing to regularize the growing number of informal settlements along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

“The situation there is out of hand.

“There is collaboration at the Ministry of Housing and Water with Lands and Surveys [and we] will be immediately addressing a number of areas exiting on the highway,” Croal said.

He noted that some 500 lots are being developed for relocation for persons squatting in established areas already known to the Ministry of Housing.

He noted too that construction will soon start on the first set of houses at Silica City, Guyana’s first smart city along the Highway.

The survey for 3,100 acres of land is complete and the first phase of the project is underway. Now, there will be the construction of the first 100 houses.

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