• +1 (868) 623 4663

Correction to stories (Press Release Issued by the Land Settlement Agency)

Reference is made to the Spotlight column on Sunday November 05 titled “Housing policy under review”, the story on November 06 titled “Bangladesh to move” written by Andy Johnson and today’s Editorial titled “Do right by Bangladesh residents, Mr. Minister”, which appeared in your newspaper.

We wish to state that the Government nor the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) has taken a decision to relocate the residents of the community known as Bangladesh, east of Farm Road, St Joseph.

In speaking with Mr. Johnson, the Chairman of the LSA, Mr Ossley Francis recounted a decision of a previous government as well as indicated certain challenges encountered by the Land Settlement Agency in conducting certain infrastructural upgrades to that community. At no time did Mr. Francis indicate that any decision was made by this government to relocate the residents of Bangladesh.

We wish to further reaffirm that the Squatter Regularisation Programme was created out of the State Land (Regularisation of Tenure) Act 1998 and has been an important component of National Housing Policy since 1998. There is no new policy position as it relates to squatter regularisation.

In the face of any continued confusion as it relates to the squatter regularisation programme which has been in place since 1999, we encourage persons to peruse the State Land (Regularisation of Tenure) Act 1998 which can be accessed via:

http://www.housing.gov.tt/legislation/#1489501530347-93a7b172-fdc4