A total of 53 persons have signed up for title documents for lands they have been illegally occupying for years at Pigeon Island, on the East Coast of Demerara.
The Ministry of Housing and Water hosted an activity at Pigeon Island on Friday where the process was undertaken.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that the exercise is the fulfillment of a commitment made by Presi-dent Irfaan Ali during a community engagement back in August.
The residents, some of whom have been squatting in the area for more than 30 years, were elated as they will finally be able to approach the banks for loans to upgrade their homes.
“For years I have been wanting to repair my house to how I want and I wasn’t able to do that because we were living this way,” beneficiary Bibi Azwim, who has been squatting for more than two decades, was quoted as saying.
She expressed gratitude to the government for not only regularising the area but delivering on its promise of developing the entire community infrastructure.
Another resident, Deomattie Laljie, who was squatting for 34 years, lauded the government for its swift actions in ensuring residents access their titles promptly.
“The promise the president and the minister made to us was in August and they said we will get it before the end of December and I am so happy because 34 years is not 34 days,” she told the DPI.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues, who led the exercise, said the documents will be processed and handed over to the families by next week. “We committed to ensuring that we deliver the titles and address all of the matters that were raised with the president before Christmas of this year and so we are here to do so. I hope to return next week to distribute those titles to everyone in the squatting area,” she said.
Meanwhile, the DPI said some 49 persons within the area were also allocated house lots.
