EBD river dam squatters now homeowners: “I feel more better that I come off the dam” – new homeowner

Some 30 low-income families who had previously been residing in makeshift dwellings on dams along the East Bank adjacent to the Demerara river have now had their living conditions improved with the provision of core homes situated at Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Each home has been constructed to the tune of $5.2 million, and the new homeowners would be required to pay a monthly mortgage of $25,000.
The two-bedroom core homes are no less than 600 square feet, and include a kitchen, living area and restroom facilities, with concrete blocks for the outer walls and floors, basic doors, and electrical wiring, among other amenities.
The structures are designed to meet basic standards of a family, and include additional space for affordable expansion.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Monday presented the new homeowners with their keys in the presence of Community Development Director Gladwin Charles and engineers of the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA’s) Projects Department.
In brief remarks at this handing over exercise, Minister Croal explained that the beneficiaries had been pre-approved by the Housing Ministry based on their monthly incomes, and efforts to relocation more squatters are still ongoing.
He disclosed that the Ministry would continue to work with the new home owners to ensure the moving process is smooth.
“All of these persons here, obviously today they will be issued their electrical certificate; so, it means that they could apply to GPL and have their current connected immediately. So, there is access for electricity here. In fact, if you notice, it’s well-lit, and so they will be able to move in immediately. And we’ll be working with them on their relocation,” Minister Croal explained.
Croal explained that the beneficiaries would receive their land titles upon their completing payment for the structures.

“The proximity for here is very prime, because it’s very close to the four-lane in both directions, and very close to the roundabout. So, the land value itself, once handed over today, it may be double or triple immediately,” the minister added.
During an interview with Guyana Times, Gulcharan Hansraj, the first person to open the door to his new home, shared that he had resided in Covent Garden since 1996, and had had little hope of ever owning a property. In this regard, the 41-year-old chicken farmer expressed gratitude to the Government and the Ministry for assisting squatters with acquiring land.
“I feel more better that I come off the dam and come in a better place now. From the time the Government and the whole team come in, they doing a good job here,” Hansraj said.

Beneficiary Indranie Gafoor, who lived with her family along the sea dam at Grove, said this is a major accomplishment for the family. Unable to hide her excitement, Gafoor emphasized that the days of no water and electricity are now gone.
“You know, it kind of hard there; sometime you don’t get no water and light, but I have solar I use, and I must say thanks to the Ministry of Housing for this, for the help…Well, I will do an opening for the house, because I am a Hindu, so an opening will bless the home; and then after I’ll move in,” Gafoor explained.

Laing Avenue distribution
Meanwhile, 60 families residing along Laing Avenue in West Ruimveldt have also been provided with housing rehabilitation grants on Monday afternoon. This is another initiative spearheaded by the Housing Ministry to ensure the living conditions of Guyanese persons are improved.
The relocation and resettlement programme under the Housing Ministry would provide informal settlers with four main housing options, among which are
the existing turn-key (move-in ready) housing units; the area at Great Diamond outfitted with the necessary infrastructure works; land allocations at other schemes; and the Venezuelan immigrants, who would be assisted with building through the Men on Mission (MOM) initiative.
The Ministry has, since 2021, been engaging with approximately 291 squatters on the sea dams at Herstelling, Farm, Covent Garden, Prospect, Diamond, Grove, and Friendship.
About 50 per cent of the settlers have already received land allocations in housing schemes.
The sea dams are zero-tolerance squatting zones, as occupation hinders access and drainage works, posing flood risks and threatening the safety of residents.