Housing Ministry allocates 4,739 houselots, 6,000 titles
by Shirwin Campbell
Guyana Chronicle
January 3, 2004
MINISTRY of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh has reported that 4,739 house lots have been allocated across the country for 2003, falling short of its projected target of 5000 by 216.
Minister Baksh met with members of the media yesterday at GTV-11 studios to discuss the achievements of his Ministry during the last year
Noting a favourable year with many achievements, the Minister expressed confidence that in 2004 massive infrastructure work will take place in housing schemes throughout Guyana.
He noted that the target set for 2003 in titling was projected at 10 000 and his Ministry recorded 6,020 titles distributed, a short fall of 3,980.
Commenting on this shortfall he explained that several initiatives have been taken to ensure the target is achieved in 2004, including the reduction of conveyance fee from $12, 000 to $8,000 with a down payment of $4000 possible and the remainder due after three months.
This is further extended to another six months an incentive for those allotted land to come forward, since their reluctance to come forward is a contributing factor to the failure of achieving the 10,000 target, he stated.
Minister Baksh noted that Community work will also focus in this area and added that an efficient unit is in place for the conveying of titles. "We have resolved a lot of the bottle necks at the deeds registry" he added.
The land registry is now de-linked from the deeds registry housed at separate locations at the Lands Commission and all of these have facilitated us in processing more titles, he stated.
The Government is not satisfied with just the issuing of house lots but the titles which can be used to access much needed funds for the building of their houses, Minister Baksh said.
Commenting on the construction of houses, the Minister informed the nation that the target for 2003 was 270 houses and 215 were built. He accredited this achievement to a close collaboration between the Ministry (through the revolving housing fund), and private developers granted lots to build houses.
At least 12 private developers are currently involved in building around the country.
He announced that his ministry recently allocated 100 lots to three private developers to build homes in Amelia's Ward, Linden. This is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2004 and will significantly help with greater occupancy in the housing schemes.
"It is to the credit of the PPP Civic Government that since the year 1992 to 2003 we have processed and issued 23,223 titles, an achievement that must be intensified so we can process 10 000 titles a year" he added.