Govt moves to regularise squatting area at Belvedere

Residents of Belvedere North in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are now one step closer to securing land titles and long-term stability, following a major announcement by Housing Minister, Collin Croal, during a community engagement on Friday.

For decades, families in sections of Belvedere North—particularly the  old housing scheme—have lived with uncertainty. The area, first developed in 1997, included 35 swamp-classified lots which remained unallocated for years. Over time, 20 families settled there, building their homes and raising their children despite the lack of formal ownership.

Minister Croal assured those residents that their patience is finally yielding results. “We will regularise the Belvedere area,” he told the gathering.

A total of 35 lots suitable for residential purposes were yeiled following a survey and these have been approved, and another nine families who fall under a major piece of electrical infrastructure—will have to be relocated.

The announcement follows extensive groundwork by the Ministry’s Community Development Department. Inventories, block and occupation surveys have already been completed, and the final design, done by surveyor Travis Fields, is expected to be ready by November 19, 2025. Paals will be placed the following day to clearly mark the boundaries for each household. Once this step is complete, the final plan will be prepared for recording.

Croal is committed to returning to Belvedere shortly: “Once that’s completed, the final plan will be recorded. I will return for the signing of the Agreements of Sale.”

While most families will be regularised, the situation is different for nine households currently living under the 69KVA power line reserve. The Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) advised that the high-voltage area cannot be regularised due to safety risks. Nonetheless, the Minister reassured these families that they will not be left behind, and that relocation options will be arranged to ensure their well-being.

Elsewhere in the region, communities such as Port Mourant Block 6 continue to benefit from ongoing regularisation efforts. Though the area has a long history of uneven settlement—dating back to surveys done in 2000—the Ministry plans to complete its final plan by November 30, 2025.

For Belvedere residents, however, today’s announcement marked a turning point. Many have lived on these lands for more than ten years, caring for their plots, developing households, and contributing to the community. The move toward formalisation means dignity, safety, and the comfort of knowing their homes are truly their own.