The Ministry of Housing, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is working to remove persons illegally occupying the Cummings Park reserve, which is situated directly within the flight path of the Eugene F. Correia/Ogle International Airport.
Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, accompanied by CH&PA’s Director of Community Development, Mr. Gladwin Charles, recently conducted a site visit to the location.
Minister Croal made it unequivocally clear that the area falls under a strict zero-tolerance squatting zone. The unlawful occupation hinders the safety of aviation operations and also endangers the lives of the illegal occupants.
“This is an area that, under no circumstance, we can have persons squatting or occupying the land. It’s within the buffer zone for the Ogle authority, and so we have to act immediately,” Minister Croal stated.
In addition to the grave safety risks, the continued squatting impedes the airport’s expansion plan, an integral project for Guyana’s economic growth and modernization.
The Ministry has been working in close collaboration with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ogle Airport management and the squatters over the past few years to address this issue through structured and humane relocation efforts.
So far, about 40 individuals who have applied for house lots through CH&PA are in the process of relocating to allocated lots; and the Ministry is working with several others to facilitate their allocation and relocation.
Formal removal notices have been issued, and those who continue to occupy the land illegally or refuse to cooperate will face immediate enforcement actions. Further, no new squatting will be permitted under any circumstance.
The Housing Ministry says it remains resolute in upholding the rule of law, protecting public safety, and ensuring that land is used in a manner consistent with sustainable development and national progress.
Source: Ministry of Housing
