Sitting of tuesday 9th  november 2010

(No. 1B/567)

Mr E. Guimbeau (First Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Housing and Lands whether, in line with Government decision not to tolerate squatting and to apply the provisions of the law for the eviction of squatters and the demolition of all unauthorized structures on the sites occupied by them, he will state where matters stand in regard to the unauthorized religious structures erected on the State lands.

Reply: It cannot be overemphasized that squatting is a criminal offence and should not be tolerated. Nor can be tolerated any encouragement, enticement and inducement to squat from any persons or quarters.

Notwithstanding this, we cannot, as a caring Government and on purely humanitarian grounds, be and remain insensitive and indifferent to the plight of the most and genuinely needy members of our society. It is also Government policy to provide land to the most vulnerable families subject to certain specific eligibility criteria and following an in-depth socio-economic enquiry into their status and situation. In this context, it is pertinent to mention that recently some 106 families, who have been illegally occupying State lands at Dubreuil and La Ferme Reservoir, have been allocated building site leases.

In particular regard to religious structures erected on State lands, the House surely appreciates and understands that the issue is highly sensitive in nature and it, thus, needs to be tackled with utmost circumspection with a view to finding acceptable and enduring solutions. Finding such solutions may take longer, but we are determined to find them.