Sixty persons occupying lands at Charity squatting area in Region Two received their certificates of title on Saturday.
The titles were presented by President Irfaan Ali, who said the process was sped up over the course of four days to ensure the titles were available to residents.
During his visit on Tuesday, informal settlers requested the start of the regularisation process and Ali said he then contacted the ministers of Housing and Water to visit the area and conduct an assessment.
Ali added that the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) worked around the clock to ensure that the squatters receive their titles in four days.
In addition to expeditiously processing 60 land titles, he said they also competed the layout and design of 2.5 kilometres of road and a new bridge for the community.
From the assessment conducted, 226 lots were identified for regularisation and out of the number 123 were identified as ones that could be regularised immediately.
Ali said that of the 123 squatters, 27 have already paid up their fees while 33 will receive their titles on Monday. The remaining 63 people will have to sign up and start the process.
“We will be spending $20 million to bring water to the community and another $20 million to expand electricity for the regularized area which will take it to the extent of about $200 million,” he explained, while noting that residents of the area will benefit tremendously from the massive investment.
Ali also said that the Ministry of Housing and Water negotiated with the commercial banks for special low-interest rate loans.
He explained that once the home owners qualify for the loans, then they will also be qualified for additional benefits through the Ministry of Housing and Water.
A beneficiary, Seenarine Ramoutar, who has been living in the area for 10 years, was very thankful for the title.
A teacher Hellen Thompson said that she has been waiting long for her title. She said she moved to the area in 2000 and has been trying to get title to the land since then. As a result, Thompson thanked President Ali for the intervention.
Emandeen Mangra said that she recalled walking barefoot to go Charity. She said that it was a very difficult task. She thanked the president for approving the road and a bridge for the community. She also thanked the president for committing to the installation of water and for electricity.
