SCORES of residents of Mon Repos and its environs yesterday began allocating houselots to themselves aback of the village, stating that they have waited for years although applying for houselots through the Ministry of Housing. With the announcement of the preliminary results of the 2015 Regional and General Elections, there is now hope for them to acquire their own homes, they said.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene yesterday, residents were out in their numbers and talked openly as they busied themselves in trying to claim plots of land by clearing them and erecting signs with their names.

Seema Rambhrose told this publication she heard that people were gifting themselves land. She therefore went to an area of the backlands called “Grassfield” aback the village to get hers.

She explained that she is the mother of five and she had applied for a plot of land four years ago, but is still waiting and added that everytime she visited the subject ministry to enquire about her application, she is given the royal round around.

She is renting a house and said life is very difficult paying a rent and having five children while her spouse earns the minimum wage.

Another woman, who was very vocal yesterday afternoon said her name is Rose (only name given) and she mobilised residents, especially the young people, to get pieces of land and start their lives, since most of them are either renting or residing by relatives.

She stated that almost all of those gathered at the location have families which include children and they all made applications to the Ministry of Housing, but did not get any response; they are still waiting to acquire a plot of land the legal way.

Rose added that some people have been waiting for five to 10 years and the process seems to be never-ending while they are suffering and with a new government, they are hoping that they will be able to own their own land to erect a house so their lives would be enhanced.

She explained that from experience, residing with relatives is probably one of the most difficult things, since their interference causes domestic problems with married couples, and often leads to suicide and murder among other things which are not very pleasant.

Rose said if people, especially middle-class people, have plots of land they could build houses, make their lives better and enjoy a longer productive life rather than living with stress and problems as people renting houses.

Residents were visibly upset yesterday with the outgoing PPP/C party and said that they are waiting and watching to see what the new government will do for them.

Similar sentiments were expressed by several other residents, namely Feroze Mohamed, who is the father of three and is renting a house; Ameer Khan, who is staying at a relative’s house with two kids and wife; Reyaad Mohamed, who applied four years ago for a plot of land and was asked to check back whenever he enquired.

Nandanie Bissessar, Savitri Sukhan, Meleisa Mayers, Deonarine Surujpaul, Tarmattie Khelawan, Richard Seemangal and others all said they had applied for houselots years ago and are still waiting. Consequently, they are fed up and took it upon themselves to claim what is rightfully theirs as taxpayers.

Residents came from Martysville, Annandale, Mon Repos, Happy Acres, Felicity, Success, Triumph and other neighbouring villages to claim their plots of land.

Many others villagers also spoke to this publication, but their names are too numerous to mention, all of whom said what it is time for their suffering to end, because they want a better life also.

Unconfirmed reports said yesterday that villagers in Success and other villages also initiated a similar exercise with the hope of owing their own land.

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