–over 430 Soesdyke residents receive leases as part of regularisation programme
–gov’t looking to establish 1,600 new lots to relocate squatters, President Ali announces

OVER 430 residents from several communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Monday received their official leases for their lands, and, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, this is just one of many land regularisation programmes being pursued in the area.
The Head of State, while addressing scores of residents, said the government’s intention is to support livelihoods through sustainable housing and long-term wealth creation.

“The very fact that you own your lease now has increased your worth by over 400 per cent, overnight. You can take that to the bank, you can get a loan, you can build your home, and the value of land in this area is growing exponentially,” the President said.
Simultaneously, works are underway to create some 1,600 new house lots in Hauraruni, a community along the Soesdyke-Linden highway.
Also, another 500 lots are expected to be established at Loo Creek, so as to assist the government in relocating squatters from areas that cannot be regularised along the highway.

According to the President, a recent study was conducted and found that only 60 per cent of a squatter settlement in Circuitville can be regularised.
The Guyana Lands Guyana Lands and Surveys has, for some time, been working in the Circuitville community and others along the highway to regularise squatter settlements and provide support to residents.
President Ali further urged residents to work with the government to ensure the smooth relocation of persons residing in un-regularised areas.

“We have estimated that only about 60 per cent of that squatter settlement can be regularised, and we are ready to work with regularising the 60 per cent, but we also want the 40 per cent to understand that not being captured in the area that can be regularised, we want you to agree that we can move you,” the Head of State said.

Between the communities of Timehri and Circuitville, there is an estimated 1,400 squatters. The government, he said, will provide support to residents to build new homes.
Dr. Ali said: “With those, we are ready to come to be regularised, you will benefit from the steel-and-cement subsidy… Those of you who want to build wooden homes, we would help you with 900bm of wood.

“We are moving you to give you value to create better lives for you and your family; to give you access to infrastructure, to give you better availability of water, electricity and housing.”

GREAT VALUE
The Head of State further urged those who received the leases to their lands on Monday to not re-sell their lands. Instead, he encouraged them to think of the value they have now acquired, and how it will increase.
Dr. Ali said: “Do not sell your land, because your value is going to increase tremendously; your children would inherit something valuable from you.”

With massive investments on the cards, such as the construction of Guyana’s first ‘smart’ community, Silica City, tourism enhancements and rehabilitation of major road networks, communities along the Soesdyke-Linden corridor will see a buzz of commercial activity.
“Your value in the next five years will grow over 2,000 per cent. Don’t sell it; keep that value for your children. Let them inherit that value,” he pleaded.

Since returning to office in 2020, President Ali has delineated a pragmatic and inclusive agenda that addresses the decades-old issue of squatting through the opening up new lands for affordable housing development, with accompanying infrastructural works to ensure roads, water and electricity are provided.

In 2022, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) surpassed the target of 10,000 house lots, pushing the total number of allocations to over 20,000 in two years.
Currently, hundreds of housing units are being constructed across Regions Three, Four, Six and 10, targeting low and moderate-income families, as well as young professionals.