A nonagenarian was among hundreds of individuals who were allocated house lots for low-income earners by the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s, ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, yesterday called on applicants to trust the system as the authorities are working to resolve the backlog in the system.
In a post on Facebook, the Ministry stated that the fees attached to the pensioner’s house lot were waived.
Ninety-year-old Hilda Persaud said that she was in the system since 2005 awaiting a house lot. “Since 2005 I put in and now I get answers,” the ministry quoted the woman as saying.
Persaud said that she hopes to build a home for her family as she has been constantly moving from one place to the next.
“Me live from place to place and now me deh at she house,” she said, gesturing to her daughter.
As of 3.00 pm yesterday, Croal said that over 800 persons were allocated land at Block 18 – Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara.
Croal yesterday told Stabroek News that the allocation process requires persons to “trust the system,” as they are making the investment to ensure applicants are awarded with a plot of land.
“My message to the people is trust the system. It is one we are working to build but I ask that once they have applied and received acknowledgement, they should trust the process because we will get to them,” the minister assured.
He also advised that persons should also provide updates to the housing authority so that officers will be able to contact them easily when the time comes.
Touching on the two-day event, the minister while noting that they have achieved their objective, said that the two-day programme was well planned and ran without any hiccups.
“Everything went according to plan… we had a definite number of persons to deal with so we didn’t have any confusion from any random person… we were able to monitor the event effectively,” he explained.
According to Croal, he was happy to learn that a 90-year-old was among the list of recipients and said that it goes to show that “no matter your age you still have the opportunity to own your own space.”
On Monday, the Minister informed that the actual cost was subsidised by the government to make land ownership affordable for low-income families. “Low-income housing for citizens is a pillar for development that is a representation of the commitment of our government to better the lives of all Guyanese.”
Croal added that the area will be outfitted with roads, drains, culverts, access bridges, and a water distribution network along with the social facilities required in every neighbourhood.
He announced that under the 2022 budget, some $2.2 billion will be directed towards the development of the new scheme. Presently, he said, government is spending $10.1 billion in capital works to upgrade and construct infrastructure in communities on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.
“Persons have been querying when the works will be completed… I want to assure them that the ongoing works in the existing and new schemes are intended to be completed in time for them to access by the last quarter of this year…,” he disclosed.
Additionally, Croal said the ministry will be constructing 500 low income homes in the same Block 18 development. This project will be catered for in the 2022 budget, he told Stabroek News.
At the event, landowners had the opportunity to meet with loan and insurance officers from the various companies and financial institutions and compare their offerings.
The delivery of the house lots was among the PPP/C’s promises during the 2020 elections campaign. The Irfaan Ali-led government is aiming to deliver 50,000 house lots by the end of its fifth year in office.
