Housing Ministry, RDC to work on developing new housing areas in Reg. 1 

— land title issues in Khan’s Hill to be placed on the front burner

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, August 16, 2020

As the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government continues to deliver its promises to hinterland residents, Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Colin Croal, is currently visiting Region One, to serve the needs of the residents.

During an interview on Radio Mabaruma today, Minister Croal said that while the demand for land ownership may be more than the current supply, the Ministry is working on striking a balance, and finding adequate resources to build a solid infrastructure for housing areas, as well as, resolving land title issues.

“In Mabaruma here, you do have a challenge, and that is the issue of ownership of the land, and that is something we’ll sit and discuss… I will be asking the new Regional Democratic Council to help identify lands so that we can open new housing areas because there is a huge demand here. There are about thirty-something titles, currently at the Ministry, that were unable to deliver because there is an issue about ownership,” he said, noting that work is currently in progress to fix this issue.

Further, assurance was given that land ownership issues at Khan’s Hill will be resolved, even as some persons have already begun constructing on some portions of land.

“Your PPP/C Government will address this matter. It may take some time because we have to have acquisition, etc. but I want to put it on the front burner for us to start the process to address the matter.”

Currently, there are over 65,000 land applications across Guyana in the Ministry’s system. The Minister said this problem is also being addressed as the Ministry is committed to ensuring all Guyanese become landowners.

The regional authorities, the private sector and other key stakeholders will now be expected to play a bigger role in land acquisition countrywide.

Minister Croal is on a two-day outreach in Region One, where he will be addressing housing and water issues of residents in Mabaruma, White Water, Husururu and other areas. His aim is also to bridge the gap between coastal and hinterland regions.

During the outreach, which will conclude tomorrow, residents can reach out to the Minister to highlight any concerns they may have in terms of housing and water.

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