Squatters at Pigeon Island registered for land titles
– over 40 lots allocated to persons with outstanding applications
More than 40 informal settlers residing at Pigeon Island on the East Coast of Demerara are expected to be in possession of their Certificates of Title soon, in keeping with a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali during a visit to that community in August 2022.
Minister Susan Rodrigues in discussion with one of the residents
Residents were on Friday able to make the necessary payments and register for their Agreements of Sale and Certificates of Title at an exercise led by the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, at the Life Spring Ministries’ multi-purpose hall. Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Gladwin Charles, and other staff were also at the event, serving persons.
Minister Rodrigues has said the Housing Ministry aims to begin distribution of Titles before year-end. She noted that Government leads through consultations with Guyanese, and has a track record of keeping its promises.
Referring to an attack committed on State House on Thursday, the Minister said that Government would not let this occurrence affect the delivery of its manifesto promises and other services to the people.
Some residents at the meeting on Friday
“[It was] a cowardly attack on State House, on the home of the President and his family, but that will not keep us down. (Neither) the President nor this Government will be intimidated by anyone; we will continue to do our work. We made a commitment to the people of this country, and we will continue to be visible and accessible to Guyanese in any part of this country,” the Minister has said.
The area at Pigeon Island has been occupied by informal settlers since the 1980s, and attempts to regularise the area began in 2002. In 2015, President Ali, who was then Minister of Housing and Water, ordered a review to determine which portion of the area could be regularised. An inventory update was executed by CHPA in 2020, following President Ali’s accession to office.
The land has since been transferred from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) to the CHPA.
