The Ministry of Housing and Water has firmly refuted recent claims made by Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton and journalist Adam Harris regarding the use of lands from which squatters were removed for the construction of the Mocha-Arcadia (Cane View) highway.
In a statement issued on August 19, 2024, the Ministry categorically stated that the Government of Guyana has utilized the land solely for the publicly declared purpose of constructing the highway and has no plans to repurpose or allocate the land to any other person or entity.
This rebuttal comes in response to allegations suggesting alternative uses for the land. Just a few days earlier, on August 13, 2024, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, addressed the issue in an article published by Stabroek News, asserting that “the lands are not allocated to anyone…there are no structures on the land.”
The agency also emphasized that the statements by Norton and Harris are not only incorrect but also appear to be deliberately aimed at inciting racial tensions and stirring ethnic hostilities.
The ministry further highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure a fair and just relocation process for the majority of the squatters. Those who complied with the relocation efforts were moved to developed housing areas at no cost, with compensation provided. As a result, former squatters have become legal landowners, a significant achievement under the government’s housing program over the past four years.
This progress, the ministry noted, has been a point of contention for the Opposition, especially in light of their lackluster performance in the housing sector during their time in government from 2015 to 2020.
Meanwhile, the Ministry acknowledged that a few squatters who were dissatisfied with the government’s decision have initiated legal proceedings, and these matters are currently pending in the High Court.
