‘Don’t make Guyanese refugees in their own country’- Harmon tells PPP

Following the announcement that the Graham’s Hall Primary School is being transformed by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), as a temporary shelter for Success squatters who were dislocated as a result of Guyana Sugar Corporation’s  (GuySuCo) decision to flood the lands, Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon, affirms that this is not a practical solution to the issue and the Government should not make the squatters, who are citizens of Guyana, refugees in their own country.

GuySoCo justified that the lands must be flooded to rid it from pests and vegetation to prepare it for sugar cultivation in 2022.

Harmon made the comments during his weekly press conference and bemoaned this plan of action that the PPP has initiated. “What should have been done, Harmon argued, is the initiating of a process that would see the squatters given regularised lands. Don’t move them into a school, put them on lands.” The APNU+AFC repeat calls for a humane and caring approach to be adopted by the state and for there to be meaningful consultation with a view of regularisation of the residents.

Harmon and other regional officials visited the squatting area that is being flooded and described the action as harrowing, inhumane, unconscionable and heartless. He said the situation is not about housing but it is a humanitarian one, since many of the squatters turned to the lands as their residence, after being financially  affected by the pandemic. Many of the makeshift homes in the squatting community were inundated as a result of the flood. He argued that the lands  belong to the state and the agency, which is the Central  Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), can regularise it .

When quizzed on why the APNU-AFC did not intervene to have the lands regularised when it were in government, Harmon said he was not aware that the lands were being illegally occupied back then and while evidence shows that the squatting occurred before the PPP took office, the extent of it, was because the COVID-19 pandemic.   He also alleged that the squatters related to him during his recent visit, that they were encouraged to illegally occupy the lands by members of the PPP.

Following the visit of Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d),  Mark Phillips to the Success squatting location, the CDC was quoted in a statement saying:,“The CDC notes that the humanitarian crises of displaced residents required immediate action to stem migratory and health crises, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.” In addition to the provision of shelter, the squatters will also be provided with food, sanitary and personal items. Public Relations Officer of the CDC, Stan Gouveia, said that the shelter is just a temporary system and the CDC will be guided by a more long-term solution that will be instituted by the Office of the Prime Minister.