200 more get Berbice house lots
CLOSE to $686.5 M have been invested in housing development this year in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) as the responsible Ministry and its Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) continue to ensure that all Guyanese have access. Towards that objective, the Ministry allocated and processed titles for about 200 house lots in Ordnance front lands and Number 76 Village, through the eleventh ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise at Albion Community Centre Ground last Friday.
Scores of persons had assembled there to seek benefits from the comprehensive range of services offered and they were told, by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Ms. Myrna Pitt, that the occasion was primarily organised to foster closer and healthy relationships between Ministry officials and allotees.
She said, over the past five years, a total of $1.1 billion were invested in 20 Region Six projects, which have contributed to the evident growth across the length and breadth of Berbice.
“This is part of the Government of Guyana’s plan to empower the citizens,” Pitt informed.
Speaking about the ‘Core House’ pilot scheme, made available to the new residents of those two areas, she said it is specifically designed to assist the persons who cannot afford to build their own homes.
“The design costs $1.2 M and you are only required to pay for your land and contribute $100,000 for your core home,” Pitt advised them.
“The Government subsidises $1.1M of the total amount and 30 such homes will be available to you in the two communities,” she explained, to loud applause from the beneficiaries.
In his remarks, Regional Chairman Zulficar Mustapha said, in the past six months, an increasing number of persons have been afforded the opportunity to acquire land and it shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring that citizens acquire their own homes.
Recognising the implications of such rapid development in the Housing Sector, he disclosed that new locations are currently being sought in Upper Corentyne to develop lots, as further proof that Government is continuing to empower people.
He encouraged those present not to let the chance pass them by and cautioned against acquiring lots and failing to occupy.
Mr. Mustapha said: “We have noticed that many persons have not been occupying their lots and the Ministry of Housing will be working on a programme to repossess unoccupied lots.”
He warned allotees, too, against reselling their properties, as this will result in heavy penalties.
Noting that much can be achieved through cooperation, Mustapha lauded the Government efforts at the continuing development in the Region, which he said is one of the manifesto promises of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).