Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 03, 2014 News
By Leonard Gildarie
We will be a little long-winded today. I have been receiving countless questions about those turn-key homes that are being built between Eccles and Herstelling, on the East Bank Demerara.
In the last few weeks I tried actively to engage the Ministry of Housing on the issue. I tried again this week, calling the office of the Land Administration Manager, the Permanent Secretary, and even the Minister of Housing. I guess they were all very busy with the Emancipation celebrations. There were no return calls or replies to the texts. I don’t know what else to do.
Nevertheless, the complaints basically centred on quite a few applicants who have paid and are not hearing about anything about the homes.
For those who are joining us now, the “turn-key” homes are a pilot project in which Government “partnered” with contractors in building move-in-ready homes.
At Eccles, there were about 50 homes built for semi-professionals, starting from about $13M. All have reportedly been snapped up.
Behind Providence, a new area has been opened to build 1,000 more, including ones for those who qualify for $8M mortgage financing.
Still a few more have been built in Providence and Herstelling.
Now, I rather suspect that the Ministry received applications from persons who indicated an interest in the “turn-key” homes. However, most of the infrastructural works, like roads, bridges, water and light were probably not in place.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the operational arm of the Housing Ministry, has been publishing advertisements for contractors to carry out these works.
Yesterday, I was at the new area behind Providence where those 1,000 homes are being built. Work has already started on about 30-40 of them. They are generally two-bedroom homes. I guess that it may be two years at least before the 1,000 are completed. A few will be completed this year. So brace yourselves folks. Aside from that, I like the new area that has been opened up. It is peaceful, with large trees in the background.
I would suggest to the applicants who have paid to continue trying at the Ministry to find some answers. I will continue to raise the issue and hopefully this week, the Ministry will be calling me.
Now, a Bartica resident sent me a letter and I will carry it with a few minor changes to protect the individual. Bartica is located up the Essequibo River and considered as main gateway to the logging and mining fields.
The following is the text of the letter:
“Dear Mr. Gildarie,
Allow me to commend you on your remarkable efforts being put forward towards enlightening the public on Housing and the various issues that accompany it via your weekly article “Housing and You”. Your article not only proves to be very informative, but also serves to inform citizens on how to make better decisions regarding the issues that surface during the overall housing process.
My main focus in writing you this email is to draw your attention to an issue that has drawn much attention in some parts of the country and which needs a thorough investigation, given the recent upsurge in illegal housing activities – some being conducted by Government officials who work at various housing authorities.
The Government of Guyana has been very kind in offering freehold title ownership of lands to citizens who were previously lease holders in some parts of the country, one of such being Bartica. This has been one of the most important activities that have led to a dramatic increase in growth and development in the area.
The process involves the preparation of letters of transfers by the GLSC (Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) and the payment of legal fees of approximately$8,000 and in some cases $10,000 to the Ministry of Housing after which the filing process will begin once all is deemed well.
The problem is, some residents have undertaken all the procedures being deemed essential before the filing process can begin, received a receipt from the Housing Authority stating “Transport/Title in Process” and almost two years have passed and to this date, no one from the Housing Authority has made any contact with anyone highlighting any issue which has arisen. I happen to fall into that category.
Two years have passed and to this date no one has contact me concerning my land situated at Fourth Avenue, Bartica. Every time I happen to visit the Conveyance Unit at Ministry of Housing, I am being told that either “the person in charge is not in” or they are “waiting on the Court.”
My point is, with all that is happening in this country regarding housing, who knows if the documents were ever sent to the court, given the ‘foot dragging’ that goes on at these state-owned and operated institutions who claim to have the best interest of citizens at heart. Or has the Government cast a blind eye to the citizens of Bartica?
I would be very happy if you can look into this matter and shed some light as to what really is happening, Mr. Gildarie.
Best Regards,
(Name and Address Provided)
I do hope that somebody…GL&SC, CH&PA or whoever is better informed, would pen a letter or call me clarifying what is happening here. I have no idea.
God Bless and enjoy the Emancipation weekend, my brothers and sisters!
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