By Telesha Ramnarine
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues on Wednesday engaged residents of Block 42, a community in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, to update them on plans to have the area regularised – a move that will soon benefit some 200 families.
Rodrigues showed up with teams from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and Guyana Water Inc. to outline the plans for which work has already started, and to answer questions from community members.
“We’re here to finalise all of our arrangements to regularise this area.
“We didn’t come here to just listen and tell you we will go back and see what we can do,” she expressed.
“We came here with plans that were already under execution, already being implemented, and this is not a one-off plan.”
Even as the house lot allocation programme is in process, the minister noted that this component of regularisation is equally important.
Though dealing with “informal occupants” who have committed a wrong by squatting, the minister assured them that the government has found a solution and will work with them.
This she explained is because it was understood that people had a great need as the former administration was not working for them.
Even as the ministry will work with the residents to develop the location around structures that are already in place, Rodrigues asked for cooperation when the time comes for some to shift their boundaries or move altogether.
Chief Executive Officer of CHPA, Sherwyn Greaves disclosed that a nursery school and health centre are on stream for the community.
He assured residents that very shortly, the team will be back to continue the process of land titling once the government wraps up its work of acquiring the land that is owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).
