GINA, February 5, 2016 --- Single parents and young professionals were among the dozens of Berbicians, who benefited from allocation and re-allocation of land during the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Public Day exercise on Thursday.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson spearheaded the activity. She was accompanied by officials including Central Planning and Housing Authority’s (CHPA’s), Chief Executive Officer Myrna Pitt and Director of Operation, Denise Tudor-King. The exercise was held at the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), New Amsterdam, and saw dozens of Berbicians, who were awaiting a house lot for over a decade, participating.
Minister Sharpe-Patterson noted that while some persons received allocaons, they were those who had some unique situations that required special attention. “I have written on some letters, promises of allocations because, particularly in areas like Fort Ordnance, we have about 580 available lots, but they are not available for us to give out because they were allocated to persons,” she explained.
She told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Ministry will be looking at re-possessing some of those lands that were never occupied in Fort Ordnance and other areas in Berbice with a view to re-allocating them.
“We have cases of lands not occupied for 18 and even 40 years and bushes are taking over the area and persons have to clean the place from snakes…I believe it’s unfair that we have one community that has 500 available lots and we have numerous persons who are waiting on land,” Minister Sharpe-Patterson pointed out.
She assured the residents that within another three to four months, CH&PA will start its repossession, in phases. But, once a person has a valid reason for not occupying the land, they will be given a timeline to do so, she said.
However, there are lands available for $92,000 and $200,000 in Chesney and Bloomfield, but even though these areas have the necessary infrastructure; persons are reluctant to live there. However, the Minister was able to convince a few persons to take up their allocation.
Meanwhile, two persons, (a widow and a single parent) benefitted from core homes. Others, who had matters of land transport, were given assurances that their issues will be addressed within two weeks. The Minister said that the Ministry will be looking at constructing more core homes in Berbice, as there is need for more such homes.
One of the developing housing schemes in New Amsterdam
