Some 150 Region Six residents on Friday received their land titles and transports, when the Ministry of Housing and Water – Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) took its ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive to East Berbice.
Housing Minister Collin Croal told Berbicians at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus that the initiative was in keeping with the Administration’s manifesto promise to expand the housing sector.
“It is our plan in the future to strengthen all of our regional offices, and that they provide the level of service that does not require you to travel to Georgetown for basic information and enquiries,” he added.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, said obtaining documentation is important for home ownership.
“For those who want to occupy their land and start to occupy their homes, we recognise that in order for you to do so, especially if you have to approach a lending institution or a bank, you need your title in your hand.”
For this reason, the new PPP/C Government has made distributing land titles that were stalled under the previous administration a priority.
Residents were delighted to receive their documents.
“I’m so glad that ah get my own title so that I could get a loan from the bank,” Mr. Shliwarh Grant said. He was among the first 20 beneficiaries.
Mr. Grant told DPI that he had been waiting four years for the document and was pleased to finally receive the title to his Aldephi New Area house lot.
Couple Mr. John Baboolall and Ms. Rohini Cyril, both nearing their 60s, said they had been waiting for some 10 years and their goal is to ensure their children benefit.
“Abbi time ah come [and] you got to give the children them. Not when yuh dead and gone, yuh children seh you nah leff nothing for them. Something lef deh fuh them,” Mr. Baboolall said.
Ms. Cyril chimed in, “we gon still keep it till we have time to put in we children them name. We got one big daughter and son, 21 year and 22 year.”
A major burden was lifted from Ms. Bibi Azeez, who has a child with a disability.
“I does want to know sometimes if I would ever get the transport because I have a handicap child. I does say sometimes if u don’t get the title someone might come and put me out but thank God we get it today,” Ms. Azeez said.
A comprehensive approach was taken for the event, which included representatives from banks, utilities and insurance companies.
Dream Realised was first held on October 16-17, 2020 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. At that event, 350 land titles and transports were distributed to Regions Three and Four residents.
The Dream Realised initiative will next be held in Region Five. (Reproduced from the Department of Public Information)
