Following years of waiting, 64 families of Zeelugt Phase One and Two on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), are now in possession of their land titles.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal hands over one of the titles to an elated resident
Housing and Water Minster Collin Croal and the Attorney General Anil Nandlall presented the titles to the landowners on Friday during an outreach to the village.
Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Gladwin Charles, Regional Vice Chairman Omesh Satyanand and other officials were also present at the simple handing-over ceremony.
The families were allocated the lands by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) through the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF) as far back as 1999.
However, they did not receive the ownership documents. A resident highlighted the issue to President Dr Irfaan Ali and in November 2021, Minister Croal and Nandlall met with residents and committed to a resolution.
Minister Croal, therefore, described the activity as momentous for the beneficiaries and yet another demonstration of the Government fulfilling its commitments.
“We work every day possible in our lives to help you and to help fix your issues,” the Minister said.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall and one of the recipients at the outreach on Friday
Speaking about a number of housing measures through the Ministry for Region Three, Minister Croal announced an allocation exercise in the region slated for September. Additionally, the Ministry has several infrastructure projects that are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Minister Nandlall underscored that the initiative provides empowerment, as the titles offer protection to homeowners and can also be used to access loans at financial institutions.
The Ministry of Housing and Water through the Central Housing and Planning Authority provided technical support to complete the block and sub-division surveys; the processing of the conversion of plans from Land Transport to Titles, as well as the recording of the plans at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and submission to SILWF for processing.
Some 37 titles were distributed to residents of Phase 1, while 27 Phase Two residents benefited.
