President Irfaan Ali yesterday announced an $80 million allocation for infrastructure development and the uplifting of Pigeon Island, on the East Coast Demerara.
The president, who led a delegation to the community on the second anniversary of the government, said that the money would go towards land regularisation, drainage and road works. The three areas were what residents complained the most about at the meeting.
And after several complaints from residents against the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the area, Ali, said he would order an investigation of the complaints. He said that the NDCs are meant to work on behalf of residents. Several residents complained that decisions taken at NDC meetings were changed and different ones were executed. After listening to the residents, a visibly upset Ali, announced the investigation. He also asked police to investigate a complaint about someone from another village taking their cows to Pigeon Island to graze. Residents complained that cows and dogs were taking over the community and making a mess.
The President also announced that the short-term job initiative would be introduced in the community. He said that this would assist with the problem of cleaning the drains and overgrown abandoned lands.
According to him, residents with the technical skills needed to develop Pigeon Island would be hired.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues disclosed that after regularization, 52 squatters will receive titles to land they have been illegally occupying over the years. She said that the land is owned by NICIL but arrangements were made by the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) to have the land transferred to the ministry. Rodrigues said that the vesting order was already published in the official gazette and that the CH&PA will be in receipt of the block transport within two weeks. She told residents that they should get their titles by the end of the year. Once this process is completed, residents would be able to access water and electricity, she said.
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC urged residents to cooperate with the government with the regularization of land. He said that non-cooperation in the past had stymied the process
Residents were directed to technical teams from both the Ministry of Public Works and Regional Development and from the Ministry of Housing as well as the Attorney General for help with their various concerns.
