Georgetown, GINA, January 31, 2004

The Minister of Housing and Water Mr. Shaik Baksh visited Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) on Friday last, when he distributed 113 certificates of title at the Corriverton Primary School and inspected works in several villages.
Residents of Area BB Corriverton, Berbice or Little Africa as it is commonly called, have expressed satisfaction with receiving certificates of title.
Minister Baksh stated that it is satisfying to see that people are eager to push development in their area. He noted that Government is moving to ensure that residents have titles in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) so that they could improve their lives. With the certificates of title or letters of allocation, allottees could now do their conveyancing so that they could receive titles to their land.
Minister Baksh said, Government has implemented several initiatives to assist in the housing drive, including the reduction of the conveyancing fee. Allottees would only pay $8,000 since the fee was reduced from $12,000. And instead of paying the entire amount at once as was previously required, people can now pay $4,000 to start processing the title, while they have another three months to pay the remainder.
Residents are usually given 12 months to construct their houses after payment is completed.
Minister Baksh urged allottees to come forward and have their conveyancing done so that they could have their titles. He said within three to four months allottees could receive their titles.
Government, in an effort to ensure that Guyanese have adequate land to enhance their lives, has embarked on a squatter regularization programme. There are approximately 145 squatter settlements countrywide and to date 114 areas have been incorporated under this programme. An additional 15 will be added this year.
The Ministry has been moving ahead with infrastructural development countrywide and 11 out of 12 areas are now catered for under a Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank squatter settlement programme.
As for electricity, Minister Baksh announced that a new initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, which will cater for power to several areas funded by Government and the communities. He pointed out that several communities have come forward and indicated their willingness to assist Government with this project.
Minister Baksh said he is working on a paper which proposes the initiative to be submitted to Cabinet. He stated that the Ministry is working to speed up this initiative, since it was found that people do not occupy their plots if electricity has not been provided.
Government has also been working with private developers to provide low-income homes. Minister Baksh stated that several financial institutions have been providing assistance, including the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), the National Bank for Industry and Commerce (NBIC), Demerara Bank and the New Building Society.
Minister Baksh told residents that the Ministry has acquired the services of two town planners and a draft plan has already been designed for Lethem.
The Minister visited villages between Number 52 to 60 Villages to inspect works and meet residents. In these villages, the water supply is being installed. The work is being effected by Mohamed Rahim at a cost of $23M.
The Minister visited squatter settlements at Highreef, Mayda, Chesney, Fyrish/Hoggtown, and Section AA and BB, Kingston, Corriverton.
When the Minister visited the area, house-to-house connections were being installed and residents expressed satisfaction with the supply of water.
Minister Baksh also met staff at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) office at Chesney when he urged staff members to ensure that they treat customers with courtesy, since many complaints are being.
Accompanying the Minister were Regional Vice-Chairman Mr. Kadim Bacchus, Member of Parliament of Region Six Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, Community Development Officer Mr. Faizal Jafarally and other officials from the Ministry of Housing and Water.