-expanded childcare services, other interventions for families among government’s plans

OVER 600 families residing in Timehri North received a long-awaited assurance on Sunday as President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that the process towards formal land titling has officially commenced.

During a community engagement, the President also revealed plans for a significantly expanded daycare facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which will serve not only the local airport staff but the wider community.

Speaking directly to residents gathered for the outreach, President Ali disclosed that the government has already begun internal steps to regularise land occupancy in the area, a development which will culminate in residents receiving legal titles to their land they presently occupy.

“I’m pleased to tell you that the process of moving to title for those 600-plus households would have started internally,” President Ali confirmed. “Soon, you will have your letter explaining to you exactly what will take place and how it will be done based on that occupational survey.”

The announcement was met with visible relief and appreciation from residents, many of whom have lived in the area for decades without formal documentation or secure tenure.

President Ali further outlined a series of support mechanisms to accompany the regularisation process, stating that every household benefitting from the new land titles will automatically qualify for the government’s steel and cement subsidy.

“You also need some help in the improvement of the lands,” he noted. “Every single one of the families and the lot that will be regularised will immediately get the steel and cement subsidy that the government is giving.”

To address the delays typically associated with land titling and lease acquisition, the President said the government is working within a three to six-month timeline to transition residents from occupation to formal lease or title. During this time, he said, the administration will be engaging banking institutions to accept letters of assurance from the government, enabling residents to begin processing home loans without having to wait for the final title.

“We’re going to bring in the banks, and we want to have a discussion with the banks on accepting letters of assurance from us so that they can commence the processing of your loans for your homes,” Dr. Ali said. “We are not going to wait the three to six months to get to lease and title.”

In addition to the land and housing updates, President Ali addressed childcare, a key concern for many working families in the Timehri area. A large portion of the Timehri North population is employed at the nearby Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The President acknowledged the difficulty parents face in finding reliable childcare while working long shifts.

“Many of you work in the airport, am I not right? Then you have businesses around here, and one of the great difficulties is your young children when you have to go to work at the airport,” President Ali said. “I’ve given the instructions to the airport that that facility must be expanded, and it must be a daycare facility for the entire community.”

This according to Dr. Ali, reflects the government’s broader commitment to social support, especially for working families.

The President also emphasised the importance of faith-based organisations in national development, underscoring their role in strengthening community bonds and values.

“I believe strongly that our religious community be it the church, the temples or the mosque must play a key role in building a stronger country, a stronger society,” he said. “And I deliberately said to the Cabinet that as we work on a new programme that will take us forward, the church, the religious community, will play a central role in that programme.”