GEORGETOWN – Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal has announced a tougher stance on squatting and fraudulent practices in Guyana’s housing sector, warning that illegal occupation and corrupt dealings will no longer be tolerated. Speaking on the Starting Point podcast on Wednesday, the minister said the government is intensifying efforts to regularise legitimate informal settlements while building stronger enforcement and investigative systems to protect rightful applicants and uphold transparency.
“It’s a perennial issue and it must stop. But it has to be done collectively,” Mr. Croal said, stressing that the fight against squatting requires cooperation from all citizens. He made clear that the government will not recognize any new squatting, though existing areas deemed safe and suitable may be regularized. Communities in unsafe zones, such as sea-defence reserves and flood-prone locations, will face relocation.
Among the current hotspots identified are illegal settlements near the Ogle airstrip and several along the East Bank of Demerara. Croal acknowledged that enforcement measures are likely to trigger resistance but said the government will proceed firmly. “Over the next few weeks, we will be ramping up enforcement. I know there will be some protests, but we have to arrest this situation,” he stated.
The minister emphasised that relocation efforts are being conducted with sensitivity and support for affected families, referencing successful moves to Wales and other communities. “It’s not a case that we haven’t been providing access and means,” he said. “We do assist them in all of that, sometimes even with the resources needed to move.”
Turning to fraud, Croal warned that housing scams remain a persistent threat, with new schemes emerging weekly. Scammers, he said, have been posing as ministry representatives, calling or messaging unsuspecting applicants to claim they have received land allocations and instructing them to send payments via mobile money platforms like MMG. “We’ve seen this repeatedly,” he noted, adding that many of these con artists operate through social media or fake ministry profiles.
To combat the growing problem, the ministry is strengthening collaboration with the Guyana Police Force and expanding the investigative unit within the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). Croal urged citizens to report suspicious activity immediately and provide full statements to enable prosecution. “We have already secured successful prosecutions in recent months,” he said, “and we intend to act swiftly whenever new complaints arise.”
The minister reaffirmed that transparency and accountability remain central to the ministry’s mission, ensuring that “every legitimate applicant has a fair chance at homeownership.” He argued that strict enforcement and integrity are essential to restoring public trust and delivering equitable housing opportunities.
Croal also outlined the broader national housing and urban development agenda, reiterating the government’s commitment not only to allocating land but to building entire communities. The administration’s target of 40,000 homes remains a top priority, with more than 110 new housing areas launched nationwide over the past five years. According to the minister, about 60 per cent of those projects already have completed infrastructure, with the remainder nearing completion.
He highlighted Silica City as a flagship development, a multi-phased project featuring housing, an innovation centre, wellness and sports tourism facilities, and other supporting infrastructure. Early phases are already advancing, he said, with occupancy expected to rise in the coming years.
On urban upgrades, Croal described a Georgetown enhancement plan aimed at improving drainage, sewage, parking, and waste management systems. The initiative, which begins in the capital before expanding to other towns, includes major drainage works and a structured maintenance regime. “We’re looking at a modern, efficient city,” Croal said, “one that makes better use of its space and delivers a higher quality of life for its people.”
With his firm stance against corruption and squatting, Croal made one thing clear: the era of lawless land grabs and housing scams is coming to an end, and the ministry intends to prove it.
