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Opposition calls for PPP to regularize Success squatters
– says they would have done it in their second term
Kaieteur News – The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) opposition is calling on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government to regularize the Success, East Coast Demerara squatters who have been in a clash with the authorities over the past few weeks. Their call for the regularization was made during a virtual media conference yesterday where the matter of the squatters and housing was thoroughly discussed.
Former Minister of Communities, Annette Ferguson.
During the media conference, Annette Ferguson, former minister responsible for Housing said that the coalition would have taken note of the situation stemming from the squatters occupying the Success lands belonging to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo). She described the situation as one that had gotten out of control as a result of a “reckless, unconscionable, and heartless approach by the PPP.”
She noted that in an attempt to vacate the squatters from the land, the government agencies threatened the flooding of lands, broke down bridges and other structures, and tear-gassed and shot at peaceful citizens, women and young children included.
Ferguson further claimed that it was the PPP who encouraged these squatters to occupy these lands; yet they are now adamant to have them removed by any means necessary. The residents were faced with an ultimatum demanding that they move by October 5, but they are still occupying the lands, something Ferguson said the opposition is very pleased with.
The coalition came under question about why they had not addressed the issue while in government and Ferguson stated that it was something that was not brought to her attention when she was the minister. Further, she stated that the coalition would have addressed the issue of squatting in their second term and there was a National Squatter Resettling Commission to be developed to combat homelessness in Guyana.
Ferguson contended that upon taking office in 2015, the PPP left a backlog of just under 30,000 house lot applicants, and of this backlog, the coalition managed to clear 7,479 cases. She explained that of the 7,479 cleared – 7,089 persons were given house lots and the remainders were given housing units.
Ferguson expressed that the APNU+AFC had a four-prong policy for housing that includes reorientation, resources, regularization, and regionalization. She stated that the reorientation was to give priority to the housing needs of low-income earners, particularly low-income public servants desirous of becoming first-time homeowners. The resources would have provided for holistic needs like education, electricity, fire protection services, health, worship, human safety, recreation, roads, sanitation, streetlights, and water.
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