Over 150 receive land titles/transports

OVER 150 East Berbice, Corentyne residents were all smiles as they took home with them on Friday the titles/transports to their house lots that have been sitting in the system for quite a while.

This was made possible by Housing and Water Ministers, Colin Croal and Susan Rodrigues and team, as they took the government’s “Dream Realised” title and transport distribution drive to Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The ministers and various heads of department from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) spent the entire day at the University of Guyana (UG)’s Berbice Campus, at Tain, with hundreds of residents as they listened to their concerns and facilitated the process of the granting of titles and transports to the applicants, in addition to taking in new applications.

Also present at the meet were representatives from the various local commercial banks and insurance companies to provide information, and pre-qualify those in receipt of their titles for loans so that they can commence construction as quickly as possible.

Minister Rodrigues sought to explain that the purpose of the event was to get titles and transports into the hands of the applicants so that they can realise the dream of building and owning their own homes within the shortest possible time. She noted that often, people are unwilling to invest and commence construction without a title as a form of security.
“The objective is to ensure that those who have their allocations, and those who want to occupy their lots and start to build their home… We recognised that in order for you to do so, especially if you have to approach a lending institution or a bank, you need your title in your hand; and this is why we have expedited the transports and titles that we have found at the ministry that were kept in a backlog, and we are trying to get it through the system, to put everything in place so that we can expedite the distribution,” Minister Rodrigues said.
She then congratulated those who were about to receive their titles, and pledged to continue to assist those that are in the process of acquiring a title or transport.

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS

“Owning your own home is one of the biggest achievements in a person’s life; it is a big accomplishment. And for those who would be receiving their titles here today, I wish to congratulate them, because they have made it thus far. They made sacrifices along the way; they have been committed to the effort of acquiring their land and building their own home. And those who may want to very soon, after receiving their title, commence construction of their homes, we want to help facilitate that process,” Minister Rodrigues said, adding: “You may have seen in the news that we have announced that there are over 2,000 titles at the ministry, and they were not distributed for whatever reasons. So we immediately put the systems in place to make sure we see that process through, and we can get those titles distributed to you, so you can have that in your hand as your security.”

Minister Croal, while echoing similar statements as his colleague minister, declared that there are over 70,000 active applications for house lots, and that of this figure, some 3,000 are new applications which were received within the past three months since the new Government assumed office. He reiterated that the CH&PA and the Government remain committed to fulfilling their promise of 50,000 house lots across Guyana.

“CH&PA, in itself, they have been busy. For example, while at the policy level the work continues to find land to ensure that we put infrastructure in place to fulfill our mandate; and that is our Manifesto mandate of a minimum of 50,000 house lots across our country, at the same time, the work continues,” Minister Croal said, adding: “And, in fact, such has been the interest, that in three months in office, they have interviewed over 3,000 new applicants, of which Region Six is about 178 of that 3,000 new applicants that have been interviewed to make themselves eligible to receive an allocation. That is part of the figure of 70,000 active applicants who are waiting in the system for an allocation. So you understand, therefore, that every time that his Excellency, President Ali, at his level; at our level, at the Ministerial level, every time we have the opportunity to engage different players in the industry; NICIL, GuySuCo… we engage them at the level of acquiring more lands for developmental purposes.”

INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS

Minister Croal said that as a result of the government’s insistence on keeping its Manifesto promise of affording every Guyanese the opportunity of owing their own home, a total of 40 contracts were recently signed for the development of new and existing housing schemes. The works for those proposed housing schemes include infrastructure works for roads, drainage and bridges. In addition, the CH&PA team has been reviewing, and looking to build the capacity of their regional offices to avoid residents having to travel all the way to Georgetown for basic information or queries.

In light of the ongoing works and plans, the minister appealed to those residents present at the meet to make use of the services available at the outreach, and asked for a little patience as his ministry works to make the process easier for all.

“We seek your indulgence; we ask for your patience, as we put the necessary systems in place; as we try to make your lives comfortable, so that when we make those allocations… not like what was done earlier this year for over 2,000-plus, for which persons can’t even find their lands…,” he said, adding: “When we make those allocations, in a large way, it is to ensure that the infrastructure is put in place, so you can immediately engage the banks, and you can start your construction.”
The first activity of this nature was held on October 16 and 17, 2020 at the Guyana National Stadium, and since then, the ministers have committed to taking it to each of the country’s ten administrative regions, so that residents can make their payments, and get their titles or transports.

During the outreach on Friday, 67 new applicants were registered.
Rohini Cyril, 53, and her husband, Jhonny Babulall, 54, of Free Yard, Port Mourant, were moved to tears as she held her transport in her hands. She told the Guyana Chronicle she has been waiting over a decade, and is overjoyed to finally get a house lot.

“I am very happy to receive this today; I want to say thanks to the ministers and the Government of Guyana,” she said.