ONE of the hallmarks of the PPP/C administration is its capacity to get things done. The most recent manifestation of this fact was the recent distribution of hundreds of land titles to residents along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Over 430 Soesdyke residents received leases as part of the regularisation process and another 1,600 new lots are expected to be developed to relocate squatters.
This is a significant development which impacts directly on the economic well-being of residents, who are now the proud holders of land titles to their respective lots of land.
According to President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who was on hand to witness the handing over of land titles, “The fact that you own your own lease has increased your worth by 100 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.”
Under the previous PNC administration, squatting on state lands was pervasive. Indeed, for a significant number of Guyanese, especially those in the lower-income bracket, the only means of owning a piece of land was by way of squatting on state land and government reserves. A number of squatting areas proliferated, such as the Sophia squatting area which has now been regularised by the PPP/C administration.
Why, for several decades under the PNC regime, there were no regularisations of squatting areas, remains a lasting shame on the regime, which remained indifferent to the plight of Guyanese in their quest for a roof over their heads?
The fact is that under the PNC regime, there was no housing policy. Except for the 1972-1976 period when lofty promises were made to ‘feed, house and clothe the nation’, housing was on the backburner of the government’s policies and at one time was deleted as a line item from the national budget.
Promises however are the stuff dreams are made of. That dream of owning a home remained unfulfilled and many resigned themselves to living in rented apartments or under slum conditions for the remainder of their lives. The promise of building 65,000 homes during the 1972-1976 period failed hopelessly and all that the regime could have mustered was a miserly 13,000 units doled out mainly to party loyalists.
It was against such a background that the housing policy of the PPP/C administration has to be seen. Immediately on assuming office on October 1992, housing and the regularisation of squatting areas became a top national priority.
Over 100,000 house lots were distributed prior to 2015. When the APNU+AFC took office there was a significant slowing down of the housing momentum. On its resumption of office on August 2020, another 50,000 house lots were promised by the PPP/C before the end of this current term and from all indications, this target is likely to be reached if not surpassed.
Housing and squatter regularisation is nothing short of a success story, for which the PPP/C administration must be commended.