The Ministry of Housing commenced a two-day land title distribution exercise also at the National Stadium at Providence, where President Irfaan Ali assured those who more interested in getting house lots that new developments would soon be underway.
“Don’t lose focus of the greater intangible good… such as empowerment and opportunities [associated with home ownership] which are critical for evolution and development of society,” Ali urged the selection of persons gathered to receive their land titles at the “Dream Realised” ceremony.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) distributed some 189 Transports and Titles to persons who had been allocated lands years ago and had completed paying for the property.
A spokeswoman told Stabroek News that the agency hopes to distribute a further 150 today for a total of 339 distributions.
According to Paulette Barton, a 45-year-old single mother of three, she was first allocated her land in Peters Hall in 2014 and completed the payment in September 2020.
“I must say it is a wonderful moment for me to collect my certificate of title… when I went into Housing Irfaan Ali was Minister of Housing and for me to collect it when he is President of Guyana is great. I am grateful that each and every person could get a house lot and live comfortable and be good,” Barton said while moving the vote of thanks.
Barton later explained to Stabroek News that her happiness is not just for herself but also for her children who now have an inheritance.
Barton said that the official document would allow her to finally be able to build her home and expressed the intention to “see what is available” from the various loan providers present at the event.
Meanwhile 332 persons who had previously applied and received confirmation letters sought to query the status of their application and approximately 683 new applications were submitted.
In total 1,372 Guyanese accessed the services offered.
The most sought after service, land distribution, was, however, not offered as according to government there are currently no lots with suitable infrastructure for distribution.
This did not deter the many who flocked the stadium queuing for hours in the morning sun and then converging on the gates and crowd control barricades despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want land. We want land. Why we can’t get land in Region Three and Four,” one person in the crowd demanded.
One woman displayed a tattered letter from the CH&PA which she said was 26 years old.
“Look how long I apply. The letter so old it tear up. Is 26 years I apply for land and still ain’t get anything,” she lamented.
While the authorities maintained that sufficient COVID-19 mitigation measures were in place at the event this was not the case.
The public entrance to the stadium had one wash station, which was ignored by a majority of the visitors. Social distancing was not practiced in the queue which stretched all the way around the block nor was it adhered to in the compound itself.
At one point, just after the presentation of titles began, Stabroek News observed CH&PA staff imploring the ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to be more vigilant. “Them people pushing away that barricade. Tell that police pay attention,” a harried staff member warned.
‘Not wild promises’
Eventually, Ali, in an attempt to placate the crowd, offered them a few words.
“The Ministers are going to stay here and look
at everyone,” he assured before adding that at least four new housing developments are soon to be underway.
“We have one in Wales and one on the West Coast so there will be lands in Region Three,” he assured while adding that applicants from 2016 and earlier will be given priority.
Ali has repeatedly promised to distribute 50,000 house lots over the next five years. Yesterday he stressed that these lots will be developed as part of hubs so as to assure sustainable development.
“It is not wild promises… it is a strategic goal with a strategic direction and a well thought out path in getting there,” he claimed, before adding that the new housing programme will create areas of density connected via a network of infrastructure.
“We cannot talk about sustainability in a housing programme if we cannot create areas of density. Areas of density create demand. Demand creates jobs, it creates new growth poles, new towns,” he declared and added that the programme also aims to be affordable amidst an economic shift which can cause thing to quickly become overpriced.
Speaking of the planned infrastructure, Ali explained that the intention is to have a transportation network that can lead to main growth areas in not more than 25 minutes.
“The transportation plan has to be linked to a timeframe of getting into a growth area… so you will see all the transformational infrastructure I am talking about linked to this overarching plan,” he noted.
According to the president, this plan will be achieved via a public-private partnership built on social responsibility rather than profit margins.
Speaking directly to the banking sector, Ali said that his government is intent on the benefits of any private sector incentive reaching the people.
“We are bringing together the hardware stores, the banks, the builders, the contractors, the developers, to achieve economies of scale,” he said, adding that by granting these business a ready market pool of say 25 houses it reduces their marketing and operational costs among others.
These, he said, are some of the non-tangible benefits of a sustainable housing sector.
