Forty-six-year-old Deborrah Wilson is the first occupant of a duplex home constructed by the Government as part of its housing programme, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said yesterday.
After waiting 24 years, DPI said that Wilson is now the proud owner of a complete home outfitted with all the amenities. She expressed her elation at being the first owner of a home in the model village at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.
“I feel so happy owning a duplex and I am the first to own one in Guyana. I had applied since 1993,” Wilson told reporters at the handing over ceremony.
Winston Persaud, who will be her neighbour in the adjoining two-storey flat was also handed his keys. The duplex was sold to both occupants at a cost of $6.8m.
According to DPI, Persaud said he is satisfied and expressed gratitude to the government for affording him this opportunity. “I want to thank the Minister and all her staff for this opportunity of owning my own home, this is the biggest step in life and it’s a wonderful opportunity to own my home for the first time, it’s a big investment, it’s a lifetime investment and I will care it because it’s a model home.”
The two new home owners and Gary Rowe, who will occupy the $7 million single elevated home, were the three persons who received their keys from Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, yesterday.
Adams-Yearwood urged the occupants to care the homes since they are a part of the model village and the CH&PA will be using the houses to show potential buyers. She also reminded them to stick to the rules which allows them to expand after five years.
Adams-Yearwood also disclosed that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be constructing forty additional flat, concrete duplexes at Perseverance, Phase 2.
Adams-Yearwood also said that that CH&PA had initially planned to build duplexes in Onderneeming, in Regions Two and Three, New Amsterdam in Region Six, Hope Experiment, Region Five and Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc, in Region Ten. However, she noted that persons were not receptive to the duplex style homes. She said that the CH&PA will have to host more engagements and consultations with residents on that programme.
In the interim, she said that the authority will be constructing the single elevated and flat houses in those areas.
The CH&PA had on display and for sale, two single units and six duplexes at the Housing Solution 2017 and Beyond Exposition held at Perseverance East Bank Demerara, in May.