Over 300 house lots allocated during Region 3 presidential outreach

…100-year-old Leonora pasture matter resolved

Close to 3000 Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) residents were reached by the Central Housing and Planning Authority by the end of the two-day presidential direct outreach at the Leonora Track and Field Centre this past week.
At the end of the exercise, over 300 persons with outstanding applications in the region were also allocated house lots within the two-day period.
Other residents were given the opportunity to initiate their house lot applications, register for turn-key homes, and the steel and cement subsidy. Application updates and queries were also facilitated. The Guyana Water Incorporated was also able to resolve scores of issues highlighted.

President Dr Irfaan Ali brought resolution to a more than 100-year-old issue when he presented land titles to residents of Leonora Pasture during the last day of the Office of the President’s direct outreach to the region.
Commenting on the matter, President Ali said on Friday, “Within 24 hours, we have been able to resolve, bringing titles to peoples’ homes.”
The agency was able to fast-track the processing of Land Titles for residents of Leonora Pasture, thereby closing the issue. The area, which was under the purview of GuySuCo, has more than 50 occupants.
“Due to the President’s intervention and the diligent work of the relevant agencies, the long overdue issue was resolved, and the elated residents were presented with their titles,” the Office of the President stated.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal explained that the plan completed by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) sometime around 1969 was used to assist in the process of ownership within 24 hours.
Various agencies including the GL&SC, Central Housing and Planning Authority as well as the Land Registrar collaborated to expedite the issue.
The Head of State zeroed in that a robust housing drive is continuing in the region, with investments in several developing areas and schemes.
“The issues that continue to track a lot of attention would be around housing and that would be because of the lack of investment and vibrancy by the last Administration. That is being corrected,” he told residents.
Throughout its term in office thus far, Government has delivered 6400 house lots to applicants in Region Three. From August 2020 to the ending of 2021, some 2182 lots were allotted in the region, of which persons are already accessing their new plots.
While the Ministry is making a dent in the existing backlog it met after assuming office in 2020, this number continues to rise. An evaluation of the pending applications for Region Three one year ago stood at about 14,000. As of now, the number is now 13,652 pending applicants.
By the end of this year, the President shared on Friday that interventions are being made to open 10,000 house lots in the region. The low-income and young professionals housing programme will also aid persons in their journey to owning their own home. (G12)