Earlier this year, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, had indicated that his ministry was working on expediting the processing of land titles and transports to ensure house lot allotees have ownership rights, and that it was also focusing on regularizing squatting areas among other developments for the sector for 2010.
The number of land titles to be processed and distributed this year is 3,750.
Friday, 27 beneficiaries of Government’s house lot programme received their titles for lands they were allocated at Groenveldt (Wine Bush), West Coast Demerara.
The area has been earmarked for the allocation of 52 house lots and it has already benefitted from the construction of all weather roads. Residents too are benefitting from electricity and potable water.
At the hand over ceremony, at Groenveldt, Region Three, Chairman Julius Faerber told the residents that the titles will make it easier for them to acquire loans since they are documents that prove legal ownership of the land.
He emphasised that they will be able to further develop their living conditions since the construction of permanent structures is now possible.
Faerber noted that squatting on Government reserves has been a problem in the Region and this is unacceptable. The Neighbourhood Democratic Councils have been tasked with issuing notices to persons living on reserves each year, informing them that they must remove.
To incorporate those who have removed from reserves into regularized housing schemes, the Region has been in discussion with the Ministries of Housing and Water and Agriculture, Faerber noted.
He explained that the regularization of Groenveldt is only part of Government’s overall housing improvements in the Region. He pointed to the development of another phase in Belle West, West Bank Demerara, as well as 650 more house lots to be developed at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo this year.
It was highlighted that Parfaite Harmonie is developing gradually and it is expected to accommodate thousands of lots.
Gladwin Charles, Director of the Settlement Upgrading and Regularization Unit, noted that the Housing Ministry has specific criteria for regularising squatting areas. He highlighted that squatting on Government reserves, including the sea defence sections, are referred to as zero tolerance areas.
Charles emphasised that the minimum size of the land is 40 feet by 80 feet, and residents are required to pay $8,000 as processing fee and $59,400 for the lot.
He indicated that Government spent over $25M to prepare infrastructure for the area and that monies received is just a contribution since the value of the land is higher.
This year, government’s effort to promote home ownership will continue. With a budgetary allocation of $2.8B towards the sector, approximately 5,500 house lots will be allocated.
A total of $1.1B will be spent on improving road networks and water distribution in areas such as Anna Catherina and Plantation Schoonard, Region Three, and Hope Estate, Region Four, which will benefit approximately 700 households.
Under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme, $1.5B will be expended in 2010 for preparatory work at six new sites including Block 8 Tuschen, Section ‘EE’ Non Pariel, Ordnance/Fortlands, No. 76 Village, Five Miles Bartica, and Amelia’s Ward, which will see the creation of 1,504 new house lots.