RESIDENTS of Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) expressed satisfaction Wednesday, on receiving allocation in the now developing housing scheme at De Groot En Klyne, Uitvlugt.

Some 440 house lots were given out that day when the Ministry of Housing and Water conducted another ‘One Stop Shop’ at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, West Coast Demerara.
Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali revealed that some 1,800 people will benefit from this new housing scheme that is being completed at a cost of $387M.
He said that the physical works on the scheme are approximately 60 to 70 percent done and all physical infrastructure should be in place by this year end.
One elderly citizen, Rajkumarie Singh said she is very happy to have her own lot and plans to start constructing her home as soon as possible. She explained that she has been renting a house for more than 30 years and that it has been very hard.
The 60-year-old expressed her gratitude to the government and the ministry, in particular, for making it possible.
Kurleigh Simon, a father of two, related that it is a wonderful feeling to be afforded the opportunity to own a plot of land. He, too, thanked the government and the ministry.
Harrichand Narine was also very elated after receiving his. He had applied for it for the first time and plans to start constructing as soon as possible.

CHRISTMAS GIFT
“It’s a Christmas gift. I’m very happy with the minister and everybody who came together for this,” he stated.
Region 3, Chairman, Mr. Julius Faerber, delivering remarks at the forum, urged beneficiaries to occupy their land urgently, citing some of the problems that may arise from not doing so in a timely manner.
“There are many housing schemes in the region where house lots were awarded and then some of you do not occupy on time and, when you do that, you create problems for your neighbours because your drains are clogged up, there are bushes on the land next to the persons who would have built and a lot of other problems emanate from when you do not occupy,” he stated.
Faerber pointed out that, in the past, most people lived in homes with extended families but today more individuals have the opportunity to own their own homes.
He noted that there are quite a number of housing schemes opened in Region 3 and lauded the Housing Ministry for undertaking such initiatives.
“Today, thanks to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government for ensuring that we have a Housing Ministry since we have taken office in 1992 and, since then, a number of housing schemes have been opened up in Guyana, not only in Region 3 but throughout Guyana,” Faerber observed.