The Ministry of Housing’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), has issued a warning to the Mocha/ Arcadia, Neighborhood Democratic Council, over the sale of lands, cautioning that it will not recognize any such transaction and also putting persons on notice not to conduct any land leasing or purchasing transaction with the NDC.

In a release the CH&PA said it has been made aware of reports that plots of land within the informal settlement at Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara are being sold/allocated by operatives of the Mocha / Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and stresses that all such transactions are illegal.

“We wish to make it unequivocally clear that such actions are illegal. MoHW/CH&PA will not recognize any sale or transfer of these lands by unauthorized individuals or entities. We hereby issue a formal warning to those engaged in the illegal sale of these lands to immediately cease such activities. Likewise, persons attempting to purchase these lands are cautioned that any such transactions will be deemed null and void. MoHW/CH&PA has been actively working to regularize the informal settlement in Mocha/Arcadia,” the Housing Ministry has said.

The Housing Ministry explained that back in 2022, the CH&PA conducted a comprehensive inventory, identifying over 300 occupied and unoccupied structures. Last year, the Government started to engage the Mocha residents on the same land.

According to the Housing Ministry, the land falls under the Government’s holding company, NICIL, and CH&PA has been engaging with NICIL to facilitate the transfer of the land

The Ministry noted that the block plan for three parcels of land is being prepared and is in the transfer process. 

“This is a critical step in the regularization process, which will enable residents to obtain legal ownership of the land,’ the Ministry said.

The Ministry has reiterated that any sale of this land by local government bodies, individuals, or entities other than the MoHW /CH&PA or NICIL would be illegal and will not be recognized. 

But the Mocha Arcadia NDC has stated that it is the Ministry of Housing that has been in the area carrying out the survey of various plots of land and making preparations for the sale of the land. The NDC insists that the land being surveyed is under its control.

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