CH&PA begins relocating Cummings Lodge squatters

Apr 08, 2021 News

Minister of Housing & Water, Collin Croal (centre), Ministry and CH&PA officials, and members of the Guyana Police Force.

Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Housing and Water through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is currently in the process of relocating 11 informal settlers inhabiting portions of Plot 1767 and 1768 of Cummings Lodge (Cummings Park), Greater Georgetown.
According to a statement from the Ministry yesterday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, visited the area in the company of Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andre Ally; and officials from the Community Development, Projects and Enforcement Departments.
Minister Croal stated that while the area is earmarked for a new housing project to accommodate 190 low income homes, the illegal activity will severely hamper development.
Nevertheless, the Minister highlighted government’s commitment to providing housing for all Guyanese, as he outlined the Ministry’s approach.
“We have been working with persons squatting in this area since August last year and a number of unoccupied structures have been demolished since then. However, the 11 structures remaining are those that were found to have occupants. They were served notices to remove and we have had our Community Development Department working with them,” said Minister Croal.
“They have received their final contravention notices and assistance is being provided to remove them immediately,” the Minister continued.
The informal settlers, according to the notices served, are to be removed by Saturday, April 10, 2021. The CH&PA announced that it is currently in the process of relocating the squatters to a suitable area within the vicinity.
Initial reports noted that 13 contravention notices were served on 13 structures observed by the CH&PA on August 20, 2020. By August 27, 2020, 22 structures were then observed and a demolition exercise was executed on October 13, 2020, leaving 11 occupied structures. Several ‘Call in’ Notices were also served and six of the informal settlers have since approached the CH&PA. The final contravention notice was served on April 3, 2021, the CH&PA revealed.
Based on interaction with the squatters, eight have applications within the CH&PA system, while another three are in the process of formally applying to facilitate the relocation process.
The Minister was also accompanied by a high-level team from the Guyana Police Force, including Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner (ag), Mr. Clifton Hicken; and Regional Commander of “4A” Division, Mr. Simon McBean.
This, the Minister said, is to enhance security in the area given the magnitude of the development. Discussions with the officials, it was noted, have pointed to an outpost being placed towards the Aubrey Barker end of the project.

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