‘Be patient’- Citizens urged as another 1,000 get house lots on ECD corridor

Though thousands have already been distributed, another 1,000 persons on Wednesday received their house lots on the East Coast of Demerara as the Ministry of Housing and Water ramps up its ‘Dream Realised’ initiative.

The house lots were allocated in the areas of Non Pariel-Phase 2 and Enterprise-Phase 2.

The areas cater for about 3,000 lots, ranging from low to high income.

The beneficiaries, many of whom have been waiting for years, flocked the  Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal as the Ministry held its first ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive in the region for the year.

The schemes will include amenities such as magistrates’ courts, police station, schools, insurance companies and opportunities for persons to open businesses.

Addressing those gathered, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said this year, an estimated $18.2B will be invested for develop housing schemes in Region Four.

Over the past three years, Croal said 19,405 house lots were allocated in Region Four.

“In summary 63 percent of our total allocation since we are in office has been allocated to Region Four,” Croal said.

Additionally, he said construction has begun on over 2,307 houses, some of which are already completed and occupied.

“I am happy therefore in summary to say that we have allocated more than 32,000 lots. We have therefore pass the halfway stage of our 50,000 target,’ Croal said.

Noting that the government is working aggressively to address issue of illegal squatting, Croal said for this year over 21 mortgage applications were approved, paving the way for construction to commence for new home owners.

Meanwhile, in her remarks, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues said the Ministry have been committed in their effort of addressing backlog of house lot applications.

In doing this, she implored persons to be patient and not engage in any corrupt practices to acquire a house lot.

“I know many of you here have waited a long time to receive your house lots.

“We are working to address every single application in our system. All we are asking is to abide with the rules of the ministry you can come and keep checking on your application but do not fall prey to any offers of being able to move ahead of the line in return for some financial exchange,” Rodrigues said.

The government, Rodrigues said, is transparent with the housing programme which is aimed at transforming the lives of citizens.

At Wednesday’s event, 50 landowners received the steel and cement voucher while certificates of title were handed over to others.