Eight illegal structures delaying major road works in Linden

Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves, on Wednesday led a team from the Ministry on a fact-finding mission at Phase 4, Fitz Hope, Linden.

Wednesday’s visit is a result of complaints from contractors, that infrastructure works are halted as a result of a cluster of squatters.

Greaves explained that more than 400 families were allocated residential lots in the area, while an additional 160 were regularized.

However, eight illegal structures continue to stand in the way of a key road network.

According to Greaves, the Ministry will now be reaching out to the owners of the structures to bring a speedy resolution to the issue.

“We have people who are waiting to access their lands, and we have contractors who have works to be completed, and we can not have 8 persons blocking development,” the CEO reiterated.

He explained that the Ministry will be exploring all its options to engage these persons to relocate them so that the development works can proceed.

He assured that the agency will work with the owners of the structures to chart a course forward.

“We want people to be able to move into their homes, we want them to sign their legal documents so they could have the security of tenure go to the banks, and start building their homes”.

The CEO added that today’s assessment will determine if the contractors can work around the structures or if relocation is the only alternative.

“We first have to see if we can work around or if they have to move we will deal with those persons who have those structures and see if we can relocate them and put them somewhere else because we can’t have the work being held up because we must proceed to put people into their homes”.

The CEO also used the opportunity to remind Lindeners that the Ministry is working in their best interest, and with the demand for housing growing, efforts are being made to make land available.

“Over the years we have been working in Region 10, as you know we have a massive project at Plantation York, and we are in talks with Lands and Suvery for additional land as we have a target of 50,000 allocations to meet”.

The CEO added that the agency is committed to fulfilling its mandate and while they are well on the way to meeting that target, with 33,000 allocations made so far, meeting that target will not be the end.

“There is an ever-growing demand for housing, and we will continue to in our efforts to make housing affordable for every citizen.

(CH&PA)