|
Exactly 1,029 house lots have been distributed for Plantation Covent Garden during the Ministry of Housing and Water’s penultimate ‘One Stop Shop’ activity for this year. The activity was held earlier this week.At the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, the Ministry guaranteed that more than 4,Mark Scheifele Team North America Jersey,000 Guyanese will now have access to housing as the government’s housing programme takes effect.According to Housing and Water Minister,John Gibson Team North America Jersey, Irfaan Ali, the accomplishments within the Housing Ministry are record-breaking, and are attributed to the efforts of the staff of the Ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority.Total investment on East Bank Demerara for this year amounted to $6B and this has seen the development of several housing schemes including Plantations Providence, Farm, Perseverance, Eccles, and now Covent Garden.According to one of the recipients, Samantha Lucky, she has been waiting since 2006 for a plot of land, and has been living with her parents.“I now own my own house lot and I will have my own home. This is a great achievement for me.” Lucky said.Omar Carvio said,Mikko Koivu Jersey, “I feel proud today; my dreams have come to pass and I feel happy about it. I have been waiting for more than four years and this will definitely benefit my wife and two sons…This is a gift for the holiday. I got my gift early.”After seven years of waiting,Shayne Corson Jersey, Byghman King said that he feels exceedingly proud because after many tries, his family will hopefully be in their own home by next Christmas.Meanwhile, although happy,Dino Ciccarelli Jersey, Lukrecia Basant said that she was displeased about the fact that she received a low income house lot.“The Ministry staff worked with me to make sure that I was given a lot that I could afford. I have four children and I need somewhere for them, so I am happy.”Michael Welch commended the ‘One Stop Shop’ initiative. “It is a very good idea that we have all of the activities under one roof. It takes a lot of stress and hassle out of the process.”“Definitely I hope that this continues so that people will be able to get their house lots in a more efficient manner,” Welch added.At a previous ‘One Stop Shop’,Clark Griswold Jersey, Minister Ali announced and commended the staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for the work they have been doing. He also made it clear to President Donald Ramotar, that the CH&PA’s technical staff has been saving the Government of Guyana millions of dollars annually.Ali explained that since CH&PA staff would do all the work themselves, the government does not have to invest in hiring consultants and contractors.During that exercise, residents of Farm, Phase Two were catered for; in excess of 1695 new house lots are being developed there.Ali pointed out that approximately $1.4B will go towards the provision of electricity, roads and water in that area.He said that several years ago, people would have reached the age of retirement and still not be able to own their own lands and house,Brandon Mashinter Jersey, however, with the government’s housing policy, persons below the ages of 35 already have their own.“Only those who have struggled in this regard would know,” he said, adding that the government’s successful development and implementation of the housing plan has been a tremendous accomplishment which is often being taken for granted.Minister Ali informed that the government has been subsidizing lands up to about 45percent.He pointed out also that the work of those employed with the CHPA goes beyond clearing and issuing lands, but entails day and night work.In highlighting some of the issues currently being faced,CM Punk Jersey, Minister Ali said that nobody wants a “low income” lot,Devan Dubnyk Jersey, and that people would therefore sometimes lie on their application forms.He said that persons would be given lands based on their application, thus, they should not be lying. Ali warned also that should they be found guilty of misrepresenting information, money paid for their lands will be forfeited.Common law couples who apply for lands separately will also be penalized. |
|