Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, has made it clear that the government will not tolerate new instances of squatting, even as it works to clear the backlog of housing applications and regularize existing informal settlements across the country.“There is absolutely no excuse for any new squatting. Absolutely none because of government prorgammes in place to address home ownership and the opportunity to have your own place,” Croal said on Wednesday.During an appearance on the Starting Point programme, Croal assured citizens who have applied for house lots that the administration remains committed to processing all pending applications.“All pending applicants from prior years can rest assured they will be addressed…Allocation has not yet resumed as the ministry is working to put the necessary programmes in place,” he said.While reaffirming government’s commitment to providing equitable access to land and housing, Croal underscored that squatting cannot continue.“Squatting must stop but this has to be done collectively.“The policing or ensuring that an area stays safe or secure is not only the Housing Ministry’s business, it’s everyone’s business,” Croal said.He added that while the government has maintained a robust regularization programme, this applies only to areas where such efforts are feasible. In areas where lands cannot be regularized, occupants will be required to relocate.He highlighted Plastic City as one of the communities currently being addressed, noting that while some residents will remain, others have already been relocated to Wales on the West Bank of Demerara.The Minister also pointed to Region Ten as a case where squatting was initially encouraged.“Persons were told to take whatever land you see, land should be free. We have had to strengthen our enforcement arm in all regions, including Region Ten,” he said.Croal revealed that over 10 areas in Region Ten and 16 in Region Four have been identified for regularization efforts. He explained that some areas fall under the management of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), but assured that the ministry is working with relevant agencies to address those cases as well.“We are addressing wherever possible to have regularization done.“There is absolutely no excuse for any new squatting, absolutely none because the government has programmes in place to address home ownership and provide opportunities for every citizen to have their own place,” Croal stated.He concluded by saying that in the coming weeks, the Housing Ministry will ramp up enforcement activities.“We have to address the situation,” he said.The post ‘No excuse for new squatting’- Croal says ‘squatting must stop’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.