No more squatting communities – Min. Joseph Harmon.
– CH&PA to collaborate with GWI to regularise communities.
– No more deplorable communities.
– Residents of squatting communities will be given the required necessities.
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, March 27, 2019.
The Government is working to regularise squatting communities across the country collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).
During a recent visit to the Durban Backland squatting community Minister of State, Joseph Harmon highlighted the importance of regularising neighbourhoods such as this.
“The Central Housing and Planning Authority has already started to regularise a number of communities but we have a far way to go. This project is aimed to improve the lives of our people.”
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon reminded that the present administration has revitalised the Local Government System which functions as a body to govern and build every community in Guyana.
‘We have given power, we have given authority to the Local Government Officers to execute the Government’s mandate to improve communities. We take services to the people of Guyana, we are committed to ensuring that everyone who dwells in a squatting area, be regularised, be safe, with every amenity, such as roads, light, proper drainage and water.”
The Minister added that the Coalition Government has created several local representatives within Central Government to provide assistance to the people of Guyana with the capacity to start projects. He noted that funds for these projects will be allocated in the National Budget for developmental purposes.
There are presently over 216 squatting areas countrywide. Many of these are currently in varying stages of being upgraded towards the attainment of housing scheme status. One hundred and fifty-four of these have been brought under the regularisation programme and are being transformed into standardised housing areas. The remaining areas are either road reserves, sea defence reserves, other drainage reserves such as the banks of canals and are categorized as zero tolerance areas, in that, they cannot be regularised.
Ayana George.
Images: Marceano Narine.