Thirty persons who were relocated from the East Bank Demerara drainage and sea defence reserves received the keys to their new houses at Great Diamond on Monday.
The exercise, conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Water, is part of efforts to remove squatters hindering the eco-systems.
The ministry is conducting a massive housing drive and over 300 people residing at the reserves have already been engaged and told of their options for relocation.
Great Diamond was among the areas earmarked for the squatters to be allocated house lots and the ministry is also assisting by constructing the houses.
These low-income houses have two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area and restroom facilities, valued at $5.2 million with a monthly mortgage of $25,000.
“We have engaged all of those households there, all have to be removed and this is the first stage, whereby persons who have been pre-qualified for houses, this is what we are making available for them.
“The proximity for here is very prime because it’s very close to the four-lane highway, so the land value may be doubled or tripled,” Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said during the handing over exercise.
This is a significant initiative because it allows for persons to live comfortably and away from the harsh environment along the riverbank. These persons will receive their land titles upon completing payment and the certificate for electricity to be connected was handed over on Monday.
The homes are move-in ready and the minister has committed to working with these persons to ensure all assistance is available.
Gulcharan Hansraj, 41, who works at a chicken farm, was among the first set of people to open the door to his new home. Hansraj said he lived along the sea dam at Covent Garden for all his life and never thought it was possible that he would own a land and house.
“They come in long before since we lived on the dam and check we out but since the government come in now, they come in and give we [options] for house and land and for us to move, we glad for it because it doesn’t make sense being on dam and anything could happen to you,” the father of one said.
He said he never considered applying for a house lot before the ministry’s initiative to assist squatters with acquiring land. The ministry is working closely with financial institutions to aid families who are willing to engage.
Another beneficiary, Alesia Lake-Haymraj, 29, who lived along the sea dam at Herstelling with her daughter and husband, said this is a major accomplishment for the family.
“It’s really great because for a young woman to accomplish something like this is really important for me and my kid and husband. I feel happy.
“This is way better than the sea dam,” Lake-Haymraj said.
The relocation and resettlement programme under the ministry, will provide the informal settlers with four main housing options. Among those is the existing turn-key (move-in ready) housing units; the area at Great Diamond outfitted with the necessary infrastructure works; land allocations at other schemes and the Venezuelan immigrants will be assisted with building through the Men on Mission (MOM) initiative.
If only I had done some squatting- I would have gotten something FREE from the government .
I had to work and struggle for years to buy my own home.
With such yard space- I could only plant 2 roots of everything, near the septic tank.
They will flourish and bear like crazy.