Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal has expressed dissatisfaction with enforcement officers who enter communities, observe violations and fail to ensure that the matters are immediately reported and acted upon.
Croal made the criticism during a meeting with enforcement officers and rangers on Tuesday at the Ministry’s Boardroom, where he called for greater vigilance and more proactive enforcement of violations, including new squatting, unauthorised developments, blocked drains and the improper placement of materials and other items on roadways.
The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Dr Martin Pertab, and Head of the Enforcement and Compliance Department, Nigel Hoppie.
Croal stressed that enforcement personnel cannot wait for complaints, referrals or instructions from the central office before responding to violations.
He said officers and rangers are expected to know their assigned areas, identify emerging problems and ensure that the necessary action is taken before those problems become entrenched.
The Minister placed particular emphasis on new squatting, questioning how new settlements can continue to emerge in areas that are routinely monitored without being detected and reported at the earliest stage.
“If they go into the areas and they are not seeing these matters, then we have a problem,” Croal stressed.
He said the issue extends beyond squatting, noting that enforcement officers must also identify and act on violations such as persons blocking drains, placing materials or other items on roadways and engaging in activities that create hazards or obstruct public spaces.
Croal called for greater responsibility from regional enforcement teams, saying they must strengthen their efforts and reduce their dependence on the central office.
He also urged greater collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders, who can assist in identifying emerging violations.
The Minister further directed that a digital reporting platform be established to allow officers and rangers to immediately upload field reports, photographs and other evidence.
He criticised delays in receiving information from the field, stressing that management must have direct and timely access to reports to facilitate swift intervention.
Croal said enforcement must become proactive rather than reactive, with officers identifying and addressing violations when they are first detected instead of allowing matters to escalate or waiting for them to reach the central office. (Extracted and modified from the Ministry of Housing Website)
