Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal has called for stronger and more proactive enforcement against violations in communities, including new squatting, unauthorised developments, blocked drains and the improper placement of materials and other items on roadways.
Croal issued the directive during a meeting with enforcement officers and rangers on Tuesday at the Ministry’s boardroom. Also present were Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Pertab and Head of the Enforcement and Compliance Department Nigel Hoppie.
The Minister expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as inadequate levels of enforcement and alertness, particularly in cases where officers enter communities, observe violations and fail to ensure that the matters are promptly reported and addressed.
He stressed that enforcement personnel should not wait for complaints, referrals or instructions from the central office before taking action.
Instead, officers and rangers are expected to know their assigned areas, identify emerging violations and intervene before the problems become entrenched.
Croal placed particular emphasis on the issue of new squatting, noting that despite the Ministry’s continued position that new squatting will not be recognised, new settlements continue to emerge.
He questioned how such developments could occur in areas that are routinely monitored without being detected and reported at an early stage.
“If they go into the areas and they are not seeing these matters, then we have a problem,” Croal said.
He emphasised, however, that enforcement must extend beyond squatting to other violations affecting communities.
These include persons obstructing drains, placing construction materials or other items on roadways and engaging in activities that create hazards, obstruct public spaces or negatively impact communities.
The Minister also called for greater responsibility at the regional level, urging regional teams to strengthen their enforcement efforts and reduce their reliance on the central office.
He further encouraged closer collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders, who can assist in identifying emerging violations and reporting cases within their communities.
Croal also called for an overhaul of the existing reporting system, directing that a digital platform be established to allow officers and rangers to immediately upload field reports, photographs and other evidence.
He criticised delays in receiving reports from the field, stressing that management must have direct and timely access to information to facilitate swift intervention.
The Minister made it clear that the current level of performance cannot continue, stressing that enforcement must become proactive rather than reactive.
Officers, he said, must identify and address violations before they escalate, rather than waiting until matters reach the central office or become more difficult to resolve.
