Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Sherod Duncan has registered his concerns over the move to evict squatters from the Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.
Duncan said he visited the area accompanied by Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews, Mr. Delon Carter, and other APNU representatives, in the aftermath of the eviction affecting more than 50 families.
“What we encountered was not just a legal dispute over land, but a deeply distressing humanitarian situation, families displaced, belongings exposed, and children left in uncertainty about where they will sleep or how they will continue their daily lives,” the MP said in a statement to the press.
While he noted that the questions of land ownership and court orders are matters for the legal system, the human consequences of these actions cannot be ignored.
“These are Guyanese families, many of whom have lived in the area for years, now facing sudden displacement with limited or no immediate alternatives. The conditions under which they are currently living demand urgent attention and intervention,” Duncan wrote.
He added that the Government of Guyana has repeatedly stated, including in its 2026 Budget, that its guiding principle is “Putting People First.” However, according to the MP, that promise must now be “tested in practice”.
He noted as well that since the government has outlined ambitious housing targets, including the construction of thousands of homes this year, it is only reasonable and necessary that the affected families at Friendship be prioritized within this national housing framework.
“This is not an overwhelming number of households. It is a manageable situation that, with political will and coordinated action by the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), and other relevant agencies, can be addressed in a humane and structured manner,” Duncan noted.
He then issued a call to government to act decisively by engaging the affected families and to ensure that those displaced are given access to safe, serviced housing solutions.
“Putting people first must mean something tangible, especially in moments like this,” the MP concluded.
