Public Squatting to be Addressed

Contact: Julita Peter

Wednesday, January 12, 2000 – The Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, the National Development Corporation and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation proposes to implement a special land reform programme. The programme aims to rationalize and legitimate squatter settlements on public lands throughout the country. The initiative is dubbed "Programme for the Regularization of Unplanned Developments" or PROUD, and entails the establishment of a special unit within the Division of Planning.

The rationalization process will ensure that for settlements where occupiers must be relocated to de-congest the area being targeted, an attractive package will be devised to entice persons to move to their own properties in other areas rather than government owned relocation sites.

The Programme for the Regularization of Unplanned Developments is an initiative of Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony who is excited about the project. He says it will give public squatters the opportunity to own dwelling places.

PROUD was initiated against the background that private citizens illegally occupy a significant proportion of developable land owned by government. This development spans several years and has created constraints to the implementation of proper physical planning. An advisory body appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers will supervise and monitor the work of the unit. The advisory body includes the Director of Planning as chairperson, Crown Lands Commissioner, a representative from the Physical Planning Unit, HUDC, National Housing Council, NDC, and the private sector. The Advisory Council also includes representatives of the targeted community and a PROUD coordinator.

Government has identified an EC$1.5 loan facility to fund the start up operations of the unit to implement PROUD. The programme will be launched on Thursday, January 20, 2000 at the NIS Conference Centre

It is anticipated that PROUD can be substantially completed over a five-year period.

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