Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues hands over the title to an elated resident
The first 16 of 44 persons who were squatting at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara (ECD) are now legal landowners after Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues presented them with their Certificates of Title.
This is in keeping with a commitment of President Dr Irfaan Ali in August 2022 – to deliver the documents by the end of the year.
Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Gladwin Charles and other officials from CH&PA were also present to facilitate the process.
The activity, which was held at the Life Spring Ministries Multi-purpose Hall, Chateau Margot, ECD also follows the registration of the squatters for their Titles, just two weeks ago. Some of the recipients have been occupying the area dating back to the 1980s.
Efforts to regularise Pigeon Island were made since 2002, including a review of the area by President Ali, during his tenure as the Minister of Housing and Water. The process was then stalled under the previous Government and restarted in 2020 under President Ali. Minister Rodrigues, therefore, emphasised that the distribution was a significant achievement for the Government and residents.
Some of the residents of Pigeon Island on Friday
“We want to empower people by giving them that document in their hand, [whether] an allocation letter, an agreement of sale and ultimately a Title or Transport,” said the Minister.
She continued, “from that many avenues open up for families; yes, you have security in the sense that you have a roof over your head that you own, you don’t have to fear, especially our senior citizens, that if something happens to them the family property or home will be in jeopardy.”
Moreover, the Minister outlined that when the PPP/C Administration took office in 1992 over 200 squatting areas were identified.
Through several PPP/C Administrations, some 158 of these communities have since been regularised. The Minister urged the cooperation of residents in other areas, to make further progress.
Speaking to the overall housing sector, the Minister said the Government was accelerating the development of house lots and the construction of housing units. She also said that infrastructural works would be advanced.
Beneficiaries at Friday’s exercise expressed happiness, having received their Land Titles. Deomattie Laljie stated that she and her family (including eight children) began living in the area approximately 34 years ago in a cramped 10×20 foot home and were always in fear of building due to ownership issues. The family has since upgraded their home and is happy to close this chapter of their lives.
“I am so happy, because we were always discriminated by people saying that we are not entitled to this [and], we are not entitled to that. […] I want to thank the President for delivering on his promise and Minister Susan for the extraordinary work that she put in,” Laljie said.
Mother of two, Kamani Sukhu, also shared, “My kids are very excited because they know in the long run nobody will have to come and tell them ‘well, you have to move’ or they will have to break your house down.”
Sukhu added that her family now plans to make some minor repairs on her home to enjoy a more comfortable shelter.
For persons who were unable to receive the documents on Friday, the Ministry will facilitate the processing at a later date.
