Beneficiaries viewing the plan of the area with Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh
The fast- growing community of Charity, on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, having been earmarked for township, will soon have another modern housing scheme, to be constructed at the present site of the Charity Squatting Area. Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh made the announcement during a meeting with residents at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in Charity.
Baksh informed hundreds of applicants and occupants of house lots in the squatting area that the area will be regularised into a modern, fast- developing scheme.
He pointed out that the regularisation process will see infrastructural facilities such as electricity, potable water and proper drainage and irrigation being rolled out.
Baksh outlined that government, through the Housing and Water Ministry, has already completed the bloc survey of the squatting area, and is currently working assiduously on the design survey.
The chairman said that Charity is the gateway to the Pomeroon River, and the community is rapidly developing and is projected to have at least 2500 house lots within a five- year period.
Baksh asserted that the housing drive is aimed at providing social security for vulnerable groups, as well as sustaining their livelihoods by providing the basic infrastructural facilities. “We want this to be done in a fair and just system; this has nothing to do with politics, this is about securing a future for everyone living in Charity Squatting Area and to make you owners of the lands you are occupying”.
The chairman added that three commercial banks have approached the regional administration for permission to establish a branch of their operations at Charity.
Additionally, Region Two Housing Officer Ramnauth Gaydyal told residents that over 198 families are already occupying house lots in the area. He said that infrastructural development in the scheme would be carried out in phases. He told beneficiaries that the cost per house lot will hinge upon the calculation per square foot of land, and the lots would not be of uniform size, since many persons would have already built permanent structures on the lands. Gaydyal said allottees would commence payment for their lots after the design test and group surveys are completed.
Special committee
A special committee comprising beneficiaries from the area was formed in an effort to establish constant communication between residents and the regional administration. Gaydyal said the committee consists of an executive body ranking from chairman to committee members. He said the committee was formed specifically to give persons living in the area constant feedback relative to the project. The Region Two chairman urged the executive body to work collectively and approach the project with optimism. He said the committee should be able to filter information garnered from the central level down to the beneficiaries.
The squatters were happy at the prospect of owning the lands they occupy, particularly because of the security that ownership entails.
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