About 1,000 receive house lots for new community to be developed at La Reconnaissance

A female police inspector, a father of one and a 28-year-old computer technician had all but given up on owning a house but this all changed on Friday when they were awarded house lots in a new community to be developed at la Reconnaissance, East Coast Demerara.

Police Inspector, Haldah Giles King who is also the mother of five children, said this will change her life significantly.

“I had applied for my house lot in 2006 and keep going to housing year after year…I decided to give up but today was my day and I am thanking God for allocating a house lot,” King told the News Room after receiving her house lot at the government’s Dream Realised initiative held on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

This is the ministry’s fifth event and on Friday approximately 1,000 people were allotted land at La Reconnaissance for as low as $200,000.

Patrick Stark, a father of one, said after he did not get a response from the Ministry of Housing and Water after applying for a house lot, he started looking to buy land but found it too expensive.

“This is one of the most important things for me and my family. We applied since 2010 and it was back and forth and sometimes you think that you wouldn’t get it,” an emotional Stark said. He said for him it is indeed a dream realised.

Premchand Seodat, a 28-year-old computer technician said he applied for a house lot in 2012.

“It’s very important to receive a house lot because it’s been a long time I’ve been looking forward for this,” Seodat said.

The new community will see the construction of a playschool, two nursery schools, a primary school, a health centre, a post office and a police outpost along with a market and a bus park. Additionally, five areas were designated for places of worship, five recreational fields, and a cemetery.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal spoke at the event and explained that the aim is for citizens to have ownership of their homes in a sustainable and safe community. Croal said this will also reduce the current demand for housing.

“You will find soon when Parliament resumes… legislative changes to complement what we are doing in the Ministry of Housing,” the Housing Minister stated.

Additionally, some $2.7 billion will be expended for the initial infrastructure works at La Reconnaissance.

“The investments that are therefore made by our government in developing these communities are significant,” the minister said.

Also present at the Dream Realised initiative on Friday were the various commercial banks and insurance companies to further assist those allotted house lots in owning and securing their homes. A Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccination tent was also present for persons to be vaccinated.