…at gov’t outreach in Leonora

RESIDENTS of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) filled up sections of the Leonora Track and Field Centre seating arena on Sunday, as they took full advantage of the opportunity to have their housing matters addressed.

They came in respone to the government’s invitation for them to speak directly with ministers and other officials at the countrywide multi-ministry outreaches.

Before the end of afternoon, the numbers had been reduced significantly, with some 400 persons with applications for new house lots and many others hoping to finalise age-old applications.

“There is a huge demand for house lots,” Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan told the newspaper.

He said that many of the persons in attendance that had applications dating back to the early 2000s were comforted that they will have their applications dealt with on a chronological basis.

“Persons who show up here today will be advised that if they’re a new applicant, they’ll be allowed to make the application, and there’s a commitment that within approximately 10 weeks, they will receive a formal response. If they’re a previous applicant, that information will be recorded, and those will be taken care of,” Minister Bulkan said.

“The CH&PA,” he said, “has no intention of abandoning the system which is currently in place, which is that applicants are expected to be given allocations on a first-come-first-serve basis, and in chronological order. So, if the case is that the person has applied many years ago, they will not lose that priority.”

Continuing on the topic, he said that one of the main issues the CH&PA faces is the end- result of an ambitious feat taken on by the previous administration, which was not successfully completed.

The minister explained that between 2011 to mid-2015, approximately 38 schemes were “developed”, yielding some 20,000 house lots.
However, one year after taking up office, the current administration realised that the rate of occupancy in those 38 schemes was less than 20 per cent, for which the sum of almost $4B was invested.

And this was all because the former administration failed to complete crucial infrastructure such as proper roads, drains, electricity and pure water supply, a failing that will now cost the CH&PA some $16B to rectify.

“We have a responsibility to complete the infrastructure,” Minister Bulkan said, “because persons are living there, and they expect the infrastructure to be completed; resources have to be found to develop new schemes to cater for new applicants.” Regarding the Region visited, the Minister of Communities said that the government is looking to open some 200 acres of land at Meten-Meer-Zorg which will yield some 700 new house lots.

Meanwhile, CH&PA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul told the newspaper that many of the applications they received represent a backlog the CH&PA is seeking daily to address.

“We would have dealt with quite a large number of people who are interested in allocation. Most of them are from Region Three, and a significant amount of the applications predate 2014,” Saul said, adding:

“We endeavour to contact these people within eight weeks, and we will tell them exactly what we’re doing.”
At the outreach, the Guyana Chronicle took the opportunity to speak with several individuals and families, many of whom expressed joy that their concerns were being heard or were addressed.

“It was congested, but I got through. I got some positive word on when I will be getting my house lot, because I’ve applied since 2009,” said Nickieta Crighton, who came with her relatives.

“They told me in eight to 10 weeks’ time, they would call me, because they’re preparing another scheme in Meten-Meer-Zorg. I feel very positive about what transpired here today.” she said.

There was also one Ms. Allen, who said: “It was good. I got through very quickly; no hassle, nothing… I had applied previously, so it was just for me to be allocated a land. Seeing that the outreach is here, I decided to come and follow it up, and I got through.”
Coming away from the booth, Jairam Dasign and his partner were happy that the news they received would see them saving money.

“I’m renting places for over 25 years, so at least they helped me. They told me that they’re going to contact me in two months’ time, so I’m hoping to get a land over this side,” Dasign said.

A family with young children was all smiles, and eager to speak with the newspaper after speaking with CH&PA officials.

“We had applied since 2017, and every time we go to the office in Vreen-en-Hoop, they keep telling us they will call us, and they never called us. But we came to the outreach, and we got through,” said Jenifer Austin, who noted that she came with all her documents.
Her partner, Stokeley Peters added: “We finally got through, and very fast. So we’re happy that we’re going to get somewhere.”