Latest update February 5th, 2025 11:03 AM
Housing Ministry hammer falls on squatters
Before
Early yesterday morning, just as many persons were preparing to leave for work, contractors attached to the Ministry of Housing swooped down on the village of Haslington on the East Coast of Demerara and proceeded to demolish several structures which were constructed on government reserves. Many of the homeowners are still counting their losses, which in at least one case, amounted to over a million dollars. But from all appearances the homeowners have themselves to blame since they were given repeated notices to vacate the land. In one case, officials from the housing ministry had warned one homeowner to desist when construction of her house was just beginning.
In all, about four structures, some of them complete houses, were demolished.
After
“These people were warned. We sent them notices and as recent as last month we sent them a final notice to remove from the land,” one of the ministry’s employees told Kaieteur News.
When this newspaper arrived on the scene shortly after 06:00 hours, the ministry team was just completing the demolition of the first structure, a flat two-bedroom wooden house. The owner was not around at the time but was subsequently informed by relatives who live nearby.
The team then moved to a house on pillars, which is owned by a mother of six who is employed in the hinterland.
Kaieteur News was told that the woman had left for the interior earlier this week and had left a caretaker to look after her property.
Initially there was little objection to the operation, but as news of the demolitions spread and more and more persons sauntered to the area, there were angry outbursts.
The residents accused the demolition crew of being heartless, since they claimed that they were not given house lots and therefore had nowhere else to go.
They also accused the workers of damaging the material, eliminating any chance of them being reused when they relocate.
“The government ain’t give this woman a house lot. They got dem rich people who get three and four house lot and dem ain’t doing nothing about that. The Ministry don’t go and break down dem businessman place wha deh pon de government reserve. Poor people ain’t gat no place in dis country,” one of the residents told this newspaper.
“Now dat dem break down these houses, whey dem people gone put dey things. If they lef dem materials hey, by the time morning it gone. Is people hard earned money gone down de drain,” another resident stated.
While the demolition was taking place, the police kept a close watch to ensure that there was no outbreak of violence. The residents have warned that since they cannot occupy the reserve for housing purposes, any attempt to erect businesses would be met with strong resistance.
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