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CH&PA to regularise squatter settlements
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be moving to regularise state-owned lands
Minister with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson
that have long been occupied by citizens for residential purposes however, government is not going to condone new squatters.
Based on various media reports, squatting has been seen as a hindrance to the relevant authorities carrying out their functions. It can increase health and safety related issues hence, many have been supporting the removal of illegal occupants while others have been looking at it from a different perspective — from the socio-economic angle.
Squatters should move, but what happens to those that have been residing there for decades, have already settled and have nowhere else to go?
During a press conference hosted at the CH&PA headquarters in Brickdam yesterday, the Minister within the Ministry, responsible for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson said, “We are looking to regularise the squatting settlements along the country, and we are going to do so but we are not coming on-board (with squatting). Squatting is still illegal.”
“Have your application in, and we are saying to you, we are working towards making house lots available and you will get your house lot,” the Minister advised.
“We are not forced to regularise squatting so let me just emphasise, however, that those are already existing and some as many as 30 years, we are going to regularise, but we do not expect this type of illegality and lawlessness to continue,” she added.
The Minister yesterday also spoke about allottees selling lands before the expiration of the 10-year period.
“All around the country, we have found that persons, having being allotted house lots, are selling these house lots for gain – this is illegal. Our policy says that you cannot sell within 10 years.
However, despite this, persons have been going into the authority to have their lands transferred. The Minister is therefore calling on persons to desist from such actions.
The penalties attached to the attempt to sell house lots prior to the completion of the 10-year period includes, the market value for the land becoming payable.
After the 10-year period is up, if a person is desirous of selling, then approval has to be obtained in writing, from the Minister responsible for housing.
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