Noting the Government’s zero-tolerance stance on squatting, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has contended that Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) must do more to exercise their powers to prevent and remove illegal encumbrances erected within their respective jurisdictions.

“Both of these local authority organs have wide-ranging powers on the different pieces of legislation to remove encumbrances from public reserves, Government reserves, state lands, et cetera,” Nandlall highlighted on Tuesday evening during his programme “Issues in the News”.

“And you are to use those powers, serve notices, take the persons to court, or use the power to demolish the buildings as they are being erected. Or if you need central Government help, well, then enlist that help.”