The demolition exercise in the Timehri north area has been halted and plans are in motion for the relocation of the squatters in the area.

Some 200 persons are likely to be affected, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn has told Stabroek News.

The residents have filled out house lot application forms and Benn said his ministry in collaboration with the Housing Ministry and Lands and Surveys was working on identifying land that can be developed for the squatters to be relocated.

Meanwhile CEO of the airport, Ramesh Geer, told this newspaper that a meeting was held with the vendors who sell outside the airport, to further plans for a mini-mart to accommodate them. He said the vendors had previously raised issues on the location of the mart and the authorities are now working with them to find another location. Geer said that some 13 vendors have agreed to the idea so far.

Several unoccupied structures at the Timehri north area were demolished on September 12. Benn had told Stabroek News then that squatters in the area were close to one of the country’s top military facilities and on land that belongs to the most “sensitive transportation facility”- the airport.

As such “those persons who are on airport land will have to move,” Benn said.
The minister had said then and reiterated on several locations that further removal of the people living there will be done in a way that causes least confusion and destruction to the affected persons.