Residents of Parika Façade, East Bank Essequibo are calling on Region Three officials to remove squatters living on the government reserve in front of their properties who are blocking passage into and out of their yards.
Several residents complained to Stabroek News on Saturday that they are getting no help from the regional administration despite numerous complaints being made. They said that the squatters have been living on the reserve for about 20 years now and are obstructing ingress and egress to their properties. They are therefore forced to trespass on the lands belonging to other persons, the residents said. During a visit to the community by Stabroek News, it was found that a number of squatters are indeed occupying the reserve and appear to be blocking a clear pathway to residents’ doors.
The residents also contended that due to the squatters’ presence, the road in the area had to be diverted and constructed close to the Del Conte Canal even though the reserve was designated to be used for subsidiary roads and drains.
Jonell Van-Doimen has been living on Parcel 735 for over a year and cannot access her yard without walking on the land of others because, in front of her home, a family has squatted. Due to this, the woman said, she is forced to make another person’s land her passageway since the reserve which is supposed to allow her access is occupied illegally.
Van-Doimen said that she is the owner of her property and has her transport and, as such, she should have full access to her home. She recounted that in an attempt to resolve the problem, she visited Regional Chairman Julius Faerber but nothing came out of the meeting save the serving of the squatters with notices informing them that they should move.
The ‘notice of removal’ letter also stated that if the squatters failed to remove, further actions will be taken by the Region. No further action has been taken to date, the residents noted while adding that they continue to suffer.
A few weeks back, Van-Doimen said, Faerber visited the area and he indicated to them that he does not see any problem. In their attempt to find help, the woman said she along with other transported property owners also met with Minister within the Ministry of Local Govern-ment Norman Whittaker, but the problem remains the same. She noted if someone decides to occupy the land she is currently using as her walkway, she will have nowhere to walk.
In a letter to the Ministry of Local Government dated March 27, Van-Doimen stated that the squatters “have electricity and water (for) which they obtain(ed) no-rejection letters from the former Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Parmanand Samlall.”
The letter went on to state that “a clear picture is shown here that the same persons who are supposed to be looking into our interest are neglecting the role they were (placed) in office to do…”
Meanwhile, Alliance for Change (AFC) councillor for the region Harry Narine Deokinanan said that he had taken up the issue with the regional authorities at a meeting in May but was told to shut his mouth.
He stated that Faerber had told residents during one of his visits to the area that he will regularize the squatters but this has not been done to date.
Another resident, Bibi Seepersaud, faces the same problem as Van-Doimen. She said that she bought her Lot 747 property about nine years ago and her passageway is also blocked by a squatter. As a result, Seepersaud said, she was forced to put her gate in the direction of someone else’s property so that she can have full access to hers.
The woman said too that she visited the regional authorities to complain about the issue but she is yet to see the squatters removed. She stated that she was planning to open a shop in front of her home but she cannot because her entrance is blocked.
Residents also said that Faerber had told them that in cases where squatters have constructed fences on their lands, they will have to obtain a court order to demolish the squatters’ fences before constructing their own. This caused residents to question how this can be so since squatting is illegal. They are therefore calling on the regional authorities and the local government ministry to address the issue in a timely manner.
