Dear Editor,
On July 23, 2007, I paid the sum of one hundred and two thousand dollars ($102,000.00) for a house lot at Dochfour Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. This sum covered the cost of the title.
I was told that the title would be ready in three months. I waited for the three months to elapse and made my first check. I was told by an officer at the Ministry of Housing that the title was not ready. I continued to make checks for the remainder of 2007, the whole of 2008, and on about three occasions so far for 2009. The title is still not ready. I can recall that on one occasion during 2008, I was told by one of the officers that the government would be digging a drainage canal from the conservancy, and it was expected to pass through the housing scheme.
However, she collected my documents and indicated that she was going to verify them. She returned shortly after and indicated to me that my lot was not in the path of the canal.
This situation is affecting progress in that I cannot approach any of the lending institutions without the necessary documents to access a mortgage to facilitate the construction of my home.
In the meantime I am spending a lot of money on house rent when that money could have been spent on home. I heard that the ministry is on a campaign to repossess house lots of persons who have not started to build after some time, but the officials need to ensure that the persons get their titles early.
I went to two of the lending institutions to access a mortgage and I was told that they could not process a mortgage without the title.
Editor, I am sure many other persons are experiencing the same problem and I would be grateful if Minister Irfan Ali could address it urgently. As a public servant, I am approaching the age of retirement and I do not want to retire without constructing my home.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
