Dear Editor,
I was allocated a house lot at the Zeeburg/De Willem Housing Scheme in 2015. I paid for it in full by 2016. After much inquiring and running around, I was issued the Agreement of Sale in 2019.
Intent on moving into my own home as soon as possible, I went to the New Building Society (NBS) to apply for a home loan in that very year. I was enthusiastic when I was told the mortgage would be approved within a month. However, the approval required the issuance of a Letter of Assurance from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
A letter was sent by NBS to the CHPA on 13th August 2019, requesting the Letter of Assurance. I have a copy of that letter. A Letter of Assurance to the bank indicates that whenever the ownership document is available, it would be given to the bank.
During the period 2019-2021, I made at least six visits to the Housing office in Georgetown. In addition to that, I have made numerous telephone calls. Eventually, on 17th February, 2021, I met with one of the Ministers and was told that the issue would be resolved within a couple of months. I visited the CH&PA again on the 17th March, 2021, but no progress was related to me on the issue. I called CH&PA again on 23rd November, 2021, but again, no positive response was given concerning the issue.
It is almost the end of the year, and it is disheartening that after 5 years of fully paying for a house lot from the Government (PPP/C and APNU/AFC), one cannot have any assurance that he/she would ever be in possession of the title or transport. This is an extremely hopeless situation for the allottees of house lots at the Zeeburg/ De Willem Housing Scheme.
I suggest that if the Government cannot issue ownership documents to allottees in a timely manner, then they should extend the building of contract houses to those allottees who are desirous of this at the Zeeburg/De Willem Housing Scheme.
Another suggestion is that the CH&PA give building materials as listed in allottees’ building estimates.
The Government can also stand as guarantor for the allottees at the bank, so that their loans could be approved and they could commence building their homes, so that their ‘dreams could be realized’.
Finally, I am suggesting that the CH&PA simply issue the Letter of Assurance to the banks until they have resolved internal matters to give out land titles.
With the increasing price of building materials, the high cost of rent and the high cost of living in Guyana, it is impossible to save and build.
Yours sincerely,
B. Persaud
