The Ministry of Housing says the Linden/Soesdyke Highway is its next target area for housing development as it continues to process 33,000 active applications for Regions Three and Four.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is bogged down with applications from these two regions, many of which would have been made from 2010 to 2012. In other regions, particularly Two and Five, house lot applications are being processed “at real time or year to date basis.”
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali explained on Wednesday that people are less patient about the application process than they were 10 years ago, adding that “many who applied in 2011 believed that they are in the system for a long time.”
In light of this, a public notice has been issued informing those who applied before 2006 and have received their acknowledgement letter before the said year, to visit the ministry to receive their allocations.
“As far as we are concerned, all applicants before 2006 should be completed. If you have applied before and you have refused the allocation then that’s a different story,” Ali said.
The minister also noted that it is impossible to allocate lots to everyone in their area of choice. There is a high demand for lots on the East Coast Demerara; however, there is not enough land available in this area for housing development to meet this demand. Ali said the ministry is working on the last tranche of development on the coast and in the next two years all available opportunities will be exhausted.
Income
“All of the lots are highly subsidised by the government and the lot that is allocated to an applicant is determined by the information stated in the application.” GINA said. “Your income plays an important role in determining which category you fall under. Many young people would complain, but they have to understand that the system is designed to give benefit to low income earners,” Ali said. For example, a 21-year-old with a child who earns a salary of $60,000 stands to benefit more than a person who does not have children but earns a similar salary.
The ministry has received a large number of applications from persons between the ages of 21-35 years. As such, it has established a number of partnerships with the services sector and professional groups to meet the needs of this target group in a more structured manner. This would not only see the allocation of house lots, but also bring within reach the dream of homeownership.
