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…housing ministers tell residents during walkabout
Ministers of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues, conducted a walk about and fact finding mission in Block X Liliendaal (Sophia) on Tuesday, following an invitation from the residents of the community..
The ministers engaged residents of Block X Liliendaal (Section A) and Block (R) Turkeyen and assured them that the ‘strong-armed’ approach is a thing of the past, but a rather inclusive and humanitarian stance will be adopted and implemented.
Croal said his Ministry has always adopted a zero tolerance approach to informal settlement, but that a comprehensive plan will have to be formulated to address the issue in the near future. He urged residents to be patient with the Agency and to cooperate with the staff in their bid to effectively address housing issues.
The Minister also assured residents that their issue will be addressed with some urgency as the agency is formulating a comprehensive housing policy which will cater to the needs of all. He noted that the agency will be giving priority to the matter since in some instances squatting impedes on infrastructure development.
Minister Rodrigues echoed similar sentiments, saying she has been active in the community prior to taking up her Ministerial post and unfortunately witnessed firsthand, people’s home being demolished. Assuring residents that this will not be the new administration’s approach, she stated a more humanitarian one will be taken. In so doing, she stressed the need for a proper data collection mechanism which will guide the relocation and resettlement process. “We need to fix the situation, we are looking for your full cooperation, we commit to working to put this situation to rest and resolving it in a way where everyone is satisfied,” Rodrigues said.
She too reminded residents that the agency is dealing with a backlog of applications which has now reached a total of 62,000 active applications as she pleaded with them to be patient.
Residents through their community leaders reached out to the ministers, citing their feelings of neglect when it comes to house lot allocation. Though only a few days in Office and having been briefed on the issue of informal settlement (squatting), the Minister opted to give residents an audience. Some residents complained that late last year they were invited to an outreach where they were made to add their names and contact information to a list after which contact would be made when lands are available.
To date the residents said they have not been contacted. Fearful of having their properties, which are all on the government’s reserve, demolished, the residents said they thought it best to engage the subject Ministers.
“We have no intention of living on the dam for the rest of our life, we are willing to move if we are given lands”, one resident lamented.
