Gov’t housing programme coming soon to Bartica
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has assured residents of Bartica that they, too, will soon have the pleasure of realising their dream of home ownership when his administration activates a housing programme in the area. He made known the good tidings while on a visit to the region yesterday for a series of community meetings, that also included a visit to the ‘BK Quarries’ operation on the bank of the Essequibo River, and Agatash.
The president was accompanied by a team of government officials that included People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Mr. Donald Ramotar; Minister of Housing and Water,  Mr. Irfaan Ali; Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul.
During the town-hall-type meetings, they listened to the concerns of the residents and readily made interventions – some of them on-the-spot, while others are to be followed up.
He told Barticians that while there are foreseeable challenges in the home-ownership process, due to the topography of the area as opposed to what obtains in places like Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), which is predominantly flatland, he is optimistic that the progamme can be successfully executed.
The right of every Guyanese to own his/her own land and house has been a key pillar of the PPP/C administration and according to President Jagdeo, the government is resolute in fulfilling that policy.
“This is one of the things that has characterized the PPP Government, so I hope that in Bartica, we can work with you also to keep this trend going,” he told residents.
Through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s ‘One Stop Shop’ initiative, several house-lot applications made by villagers across the country have been processed wherever the exercise has been taken.
On the East Bank of Demerara alone, in the vicinity of Diamond, a massive housing programme is at present being undertaken with a target of 15,000 house-lots to be developed for distribution.
The impending housing programme in Bartica will add to the list of interventions made by the administration in the community, which has the distinction of being referred to as the ‘GATEWAY TO THE INTERIOR’.

Addressing residents at the St. John the Baptist Primary School, the President said that he was well aware of the problems that plague the community of Bartica, inclusive of bad roads, the dilapidated state of the community ground, and the problem of waste disposal.
“Today I am here to talk to you about these issues, and find ways of addressing them,” he said, adding that Bartica, on a per capita basis, is receiving much attention from the government.
At that meeting, residents raised many issues, from a defunct koker between Second and Fourth Avenues, to the disposal of garbage by both private entities and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
The President and his party also heard of the issue of illegal aliens from Brazil in Guyana, and the issue of discrimination when it comes to finding employment on some mining claims.
“They have to hire people. Discrimination is prohibited by laws that we passed,” stressed the President yesterday. He promised that a team comprising officials from the Immigration Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make a fact-finding mission to the communities to ascertain the facts and take the necessary action.
Persons complained as well about the issue of foreign persons being the only ones who could afford to rent places for higher than normal prices. But the President saw this as impetus for persons to own their own properties, so that when there is demand for rental of properties, the price would not rise beyond the reach of many.
He however asked that a survey be done at the level of the Ministry of Housing and Water, to determine the number of persons living in rental properties and are in desperate need for a plot of land.
With such data available, he said, the government will be better able to brainstorm the prospect of building a new housing scheme.
He also promised help to the NDC, in the form of a tractor to assist with the disposal of garbage. However, some members of the community felt the NDC should not receive any gifts from the President unless they disband and form an Interim Management Committee, taking on board fresh minds with equally fresh ideas.
The President also promised to look into the issue of no water being received by residents of Mongrippa Hill, in Bartica, and mandated Minister Alli to look into it.
Persons also complained about the hassle they get when travelling to Bartica by steamer. To this, the President assured the residents of Bartica and contiguous communities that by the end of the year, two roll on/roll off (Ro-Ro) ferries will commence operation on the Essequibo River, running the Parika to Supenaam route. This, he said, will free up the existing steamers, so they can service the Bartica route.
On complaints about the condition of the roads, the President gave the residents the assurance that one of the main roads in and out of the Bartica community will be rehabilitated. He said that back in December 2010, Cabinet approved an allocation of $90 million for this purpose, and he expressed disappointment that this project only received its Construction Notice to Proceed two day ago.
Speaking at another meeting held at the Agatash Primary School, presidential hopeful, Mr Ramotar said that the PPP/C has built Guyana ten times over since 1992, adding that all indicators show Guyana moving forward, from the period when the PPP/C took power in 1992 to now. He said that while other countries are in turmoil financially and economically, Guyana is sound in these regards.
“The fact that we have been making progress is testimony to the PPP/C leadership and the astute leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo,” Ramotar said. (Additional reportage by GINA)