Multi-million-dollar works begin in new Charity housing areas

…as residents complain of poor drainage, deplorable roads, boundary disputes

Infrastructure works to the tune of $40 million has begun in the new housing areas in Charity, Region Two, as over 300 house lots were distributed in the area this year.
This is according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal who was part of a Government outreach in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and who told residents of Charity that over $1 billion in additional funds is earmarked for the 2022 budget.

During the outreach, the Housing Minister engaged with residents at Charity Housing Scheme, Amazon and Sommerset.
While there, Croal announced that some $40 million will be expended to commence infrastructure works at Buxton and St Joseph, Charity. In June of this year, the Government had distributed 350 house lots in the Charity area, adding to another 350 distributed in April.
According to the Minister, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be conducting works on access bridges and roads to the new housing developments.
Other infrastructure works in the new and existing housing areas will be catered for under the CH&PA’s 2022 work programme. Another $872 million will be expended in Buxton and St Joseph and $628 million in the Old and New Charity Housing Schemes for the upgrading of several roads, pipe networks and the construction of drains and culverts.
When it comes to the water sector, residents can expect increased access to potable water through the drilling of five wells by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in Pomeroon, Region Two.
“We are aware of the issues with high iron content in your water and our plan is to improve the coverage of treated water on the Essequibo Coast,” the Minister also told the residents at the outreach.

Issues
During the outreach, several longstanding housing matters were also raised and speedy resolutions were provided. Residents were also given assurance that other registered issues will be resolved in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, residents used the opportunity presented by the engagements as a platform to raise issues in various sectors affecting them in the region. Several complaints were raised including complaints about poor drainage systems, deplorable roads, boundary disputes, service levels received from GWI and the need for street lights.
Additionally, a number of Somerset farmers sought the Minister’s intervention for a farm to market road in the area. In this regard, the Minister was able to underline a number of Government’s development plans for the region such as the road upgrades, the installation of street lights by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and plans for a Specialty Hospital.
In June of this year, the Government of Guyana through CH&PA had allocated 350 house lots to residents of Charity at the Anna Regina Town Council. The house lots were allocated under the “Dream Realised” housing drive which the PPP/C initiated after taking office in August 2020.
In addition to the 350 house lots, another 200 titles and transports were handed out during a planned two-day activity in the region. Since taking office in August 2020, Government has so far distributed some 6500 house lots and 2000 titles as of August.
Minister Croal had previously promised that another 7000 house lots will be distributed before the end of this year, putting Government on track to fulfil its commitment of distributing 50,000 house lots during its five-year tenure.