President Bharrat Jagdeo told Barticians that they will soon be given a chance to realise their dreams of home ownership when the Housing Ministry hosts takes its ‘one stop shop’ programme in the area.
The President made this announcement during one of a series of community meetings he hosted in the region, during a recent visit there. Jagdeo was accompanied by a team including PPP presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn.
According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) press release the president said there are a number of foreseeable challenges in the process due to the area’s topography but the administration is committed to ensuring that persons realise their dreams of home ownership.
Several villagers have applied for house lots during the ‘one stop shop’ exercises. At Diamond, East Bank Demerara a “massive” housing programme is being undertaken with a target of 15,000 house lots to be developed for distribution. “The impending housing programme in Bartica will add to the list of interventions made by the administration in the community which holds the reputation as the gateway to the interior,” GINA said.
Jagdeo also told residents that Bartica has been the largest beneficiary of government’s per capita expenditure. “You have a small number of people and fairly large size investments have been made over the past several years from the road network here to the road and market,” he said.
The president also engaged residents on issues that are affecting them. Resident, Lennox, speaking on behalf of the differently-abled community, requested land for the construction of a centre catering to this group.
Alfred, another resident, lamented the difficulties residents face in the community regarding rentals. He said preference is given to persons from outside the community.
In response the president requested that the ministry conduct a survey to determine the number of persons living in rented properties and those who need a plot of land. He said government will better be able to brainstorm the pros-pects of building a new housing scheme with this data.
GINA said several residents from riverain communities in Region Seven told the president that there has been a delay in the issuing of land titles. Regarding enquiries about land titles for Rivers View, Jagdeo said the process will be fast-tracked with funds from the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
The team also visited the BK Quarries operation on the bank of the Essequibo River.
