Guards for State lands

Rowley said Cabinet approved new laws to let the LSA better monitor the protection of State lands.

Rowley said in addition to its main office in Port-of-Spain, the LSA would set up sub-units at Orange Grove to serve North Trinidad and in both Central and South Trinidad.

He recalled Prime Minister Patrick Manning saying that squatting does not form part of the Government’s land policy. He said Government was trying to house people by its accelerated housing programme and by upgrading facilities at regularised squatting communities including roads and drains, plus proper legal title to the residents.

“We are building housing units. The time will come when there is no need for squatting,” Rowley promised.

Asked if Government was truly caring towards squatters, he said that the housing problem cannot be solved by any further expansion of squatting.

“That only worsens the situation, because we will always have this problem with us of communities without services or facilities and bad conditions for raising children.”

He estimated there were 80,000 squatters in the country. On the re-development of East Port-of-Spain, he said his ministry was “scrupulously” following legal procedures.