Single mom who waited for 20 years among hundreds to receive house lots in Region Three

Single mother, Kelwattie Persaud waited for 20 years and just as she was about to give up, one of her dreams became a reality on Friday when she was allocated a house lot in the Wales Development Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

“It’s a great feeling. I applied since 2005. I am a single parent and I live with my mother.

“I went and uplift my form two weeks ago and I was very surprised I got the call this week,” Persaud told the News Room after receiving her house lot at the Housing Ministry’s ‘Dream Realised’ initiative held on Friday at Klien Pouderoyen, WBD.

A total of 1,500 house lots were distributed at the event which is the first to be held by the Ministry of Housing and Water for the year.

The allottees are the first batch of recipients of house lots in the Wales Development Housing Scheme (Phase Two) which consists of lots, ranging from low to high income.

It reduces the demand for land in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara) by 13 per cent.

Though he travels abroad often, Cecil King desired for years to build his dream home in Guyana.

“Today after waiting for years, I am closer to that journey. It’s been a while.

“I was away for a little bit and I was happy to be around when I got that call yesterday. Now I know I will be working on something of my own so I am excited about that,” King told the News Room.

Tears filled the eyes of  Esther Persaud as she tried to gather words to express how elated she felt.

“I want to thank the Government and everybody. I am glad…I just been waiting since 2008.

“I will finally be able to build and live on my own,” she said.

The new housing scheme consists of a total of 5,000 house lots and it will feature a magistrate’s court, schools, day care, and other amenities.

Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal reflected on the investment made by the government to develop these housing schemes.

“This development coupled with commercial activities in this region is a testimony of economic growth and development for the people.

“Today we will continue to bring relief through the allocation of house lots,” Croal said.

Region Three has the second highest demand for house lots in the country, with a backlog of 11,656 applicants.

Since assuming office in 2020, Croal said a total of 7,300 house lots were allocated in the region.

Meanwhile, in her remarks, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues issued a stern reminder to persons interested in acquiring a house lot, not to engage in illegitimate activities.

“So please understand that nobody should be frustrating you, nobody should be approaching you to do you a favour by helping you for some financial gain to them personally for your house lot.

“You application can and will be addressed legitimately by the Central Housing and Planning Authority,” Rodrigues said.

From 2020 to now, the government has allocated over 31,000 house hots. Region Three has seen 20 per cent of the total allocation.