Minister of Housing Collin Croal has reaffirmed the government’s stance against unregulated settlements, making it clear that there will be no recognition or regularisation of any new squatting area in Guyana.
During an interview on the Starting Point Podcast, the minister noted that squatting has been a long-standing issue, stressing that addressing it requires collective responsibility.
He explained that while the ministry has been working to regularise some existing settlements where relocation is difficult, the government’s policy remains clear: new squatting areas will not be tolerated.
Minister Croal underscored that with the government’s expansive housing programme in place, there is no justification for new squatting.
“There’s absolutely no excuse for any new squatting. Absolutely none, because of the government’s programme that you have in place to address home ownership and the opportunity to have your own space,” he said.
Minister Croal revealed that final notices were recently issued to persons occupying lands south of the Ogle Airstrip and that similar enforcement actions are being pursued along the Demerara River between Grove and Herstelling.
“We have moved many of them; a few are still there, and so we’re working to remove them,” Croal said.
He explained that in some cases, regularisation is impossible, particularly in areas without sea defences or areas unsuitable for housing.
Speaking about Region Ten, Minister Croal said squatting there began after persons were encouraged to occupy lands freely.
“Persons were told yes, go take whatever land you see, land should be free, and persons started to do this in an ad hoc manner,” he noted.
He shared that while enforcement is being strengthened across all regions, including in Linden, to curb new squatting, the ministry controls only a small portion of land in Linden.
Most lands there, he explained, fall under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) or the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC).
“So, we’re the smallest [agency] who have ownership for lands there, but we are addressing, we have committed, and we are addressing wherever possible to have regularisation done,” Croal said.
The minister said he recently visited Linden with a team, where areas have been identified for regularisation, with occupation surveys already completed. To this end, he said similar exercises will be done in Mocha, Region Four.
Explaining the regularisation process, Croal noted that the ministry’s team visits the squatting area and uses a number system for record-keeping.
“It’s really for reporting purposes and for us to know at the point when we have verified based on occupancy, we have the cut-off, so we know when new ones come,” he explained.
He added, “For example, the very Region Ten that you’re talking about, over 10 areas we intend to target. Region Four, for example, has over 16 areas. We have regularised a number of areas in Region Three…we have done a lot of work there.”
Minister Croal added that the ministry will also be looking to address squatting in areas like La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara.
“So, when you see us over the next few weeks, we will be ramping up in terms of enforcement. So yes, I know they’ll have some protests,” Croal stated. However, he stated that squatting and unregulated areas must be addressed.
Minister Croal further shared that he will be leading a team to Plastic City to assess areas where relocation will be necessary. He noted that an analysis showed some residents could remain, while others would have to move.
Some persons from Plastic City, he said, have already been allocated lands in Wales, West Bank Demerara. The minister also noted that the housing ministry usually provides assistance to help persons relocate.