An Open Letter to Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

Jun 12, 2011 Letters

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Dear Minister Ali,
I write in reference to a news report in DemeraraWaves on Sunday June 5 with the caption: “Minimum cap on re-migrant spending on housing construction”.
In this article, you are quoted to have said, “What we want is that everybody who comes back from overseas, they are going to invest a minimum of approximately eighty to one hundred thousand US in the building of their house”.
As a minister of government, you must be aware that this is a discriminatory act against Guyanese living abroad who may wish to return home one day to live.
And as a patriotic Guyanese living in New York, I can assure you, that I will use all the resources at my disposal to educate and discourage potential re-migrants if this ludicrous idea of yours is ever brought to fruition. Let me explain why:
Most Guyanese living in developed countries have broadened their horizons. They’re exposed to different cultures and have respect for the rule of law.
Career opportunities are numerous, and whatever they’re able to accomplish, is limited only by their God-given potential and ability.
They benefit from a more advanced healthcare system and tremendous educational opportunities and after-school programs for their children; they feel secure in their homes and on the street; they enjoy a quality of life that is only an illusion to most Guyanese.
Yet most would give that all up to return home with new acquired skills and innovation, and yes, our savings, to create jobs and to play our part to further develop the land we all love. But the risk must be worth the sacrifice we’re asking our families to make.
Apart from the duty-free concession offered on a small capacity vehicle and personal effects, there is really no incentive for a Guyanese to return home at this time, and what you are proposing is counter- productive to this effort.
The few re-migrants that have returned so far are being targeted by dangerous criminals. Some have been shot, killed and robbed of their possessions… their lives totally destroyed. And this trend is likely to continue unless this Administration finds the courage to stretch the necks of these murderers.
There is severe widespread flooding of the entire coastal area and to some villages inland during heavy rainfall, which not only contributes to the destruction of property, but constitutes a dangerous health hazard.
The central water supply to towns and villages lacks adequate pressure and requires residents to install water pumps to increase the flow of water above the first floor. Electricity throughout Guyana is unstable and unreliable, and the frequent ‘blackouts‘ often result in power-surge damages to computers, refrigerators and other electrical household appliances, as most residence cannot afford the cost of installing electrical generators.
With inadequate street lighting and road signs; narrow roads; potholes; cattle and other animals roaming the streets at will; reckless mini-bus drivers and inconsiderate roadside vendors, driving in Guyana is like an accident waiting to happen.
Although the health care system is much improved, we are still a long way from providing specialized healthcare and surgeries. As such, the lifestyle, comfort and security that Guyanese living abroad are accustomed to, would be severely compromised by returning home to live.
You may have over one thousand applications for house lots available to re-migrants, but I doubt you will find many who would be willing to pay the asking price of US$35,000 for a homesite (house lot) that’s only 8,000 sq. ft. Especially when a homesite of 10,000 sq. ft. can be purchased in Florida for as little US$12,000.
Minister Ali, I can truly understand your objective to establish a development that is of a high standard by setting a minimum building cap, but you are not a private developer Sir, you are a representative of the people, and you cannot discriminate against those Guyanese who can afford and those who cannot. Under the law, we should all be entitled to the same privileges if any, regardless of our individual financial status. But if you must, I have a suggestion that would allow you to enforce this minimum cap stipulation, and one that would bring some success to your remigration efforts:
In a country that is vastly under-populated, where it is believed that there are more Guyanese living overseas than in Guyana, and in a place where land is plentiful, you can offer re-migrants a real incentive to build their homes.
Give them the opportunity to buy government land at the same rate that you, other ministers and officials of government, President Jagdeo, and some members of the police and army have already taken advantage of… US$25,000 for one acre, or US$6,000 for a 8,000 sq. ft. homesite. If this price is good for party loyalists and middle-income Guyanese living there that have already benefitted from this, why not offer the same rate to us provided we agree with your minimum cap restriction?
You can be proud of your accomplishments in your official capacity, and both you and the PPP/C Administration must be commended on the tremendous housing program that is creating more home-owners than any other period in our history. And because you’ve made it very affordable for low and middle income families in Guyana to secure land and mortgages with low interest rates to build their homes, you are obligated to regulate building codes and standards there. But how do you dictate and control how much a re-migrant ought to spend on a home when you’re charging them more than the market value for the land?
Thirty five thousand US dollars for a small homesite is a rip-off Sir, not an incentive. And if I’m to pay that much for a houselot, I must decide the area I want to live and the lot I want to live on. Not having some bureaucrat behind a desk making these decisions for me.
A re-migrants will have to take into consideration the cash purchase of a new vehicle to use there; freight charges for the vehicle and personal effects; airline tickets; and in Guyana, US$35,000 for the house lot, US$80,000 – US$100,000 to build, a water pump and electrical generator, and the cost associated with employing 24-hour security to guard his expensive home.
You must not assume that all Guyanese residing abroad have the financial resources to do this, for despite the common belief, money does not grow on trees in New York or anywhere else. Overseas-based Guyanese work hard, sacrifice and save to secure a better quality of life for themselves and children. So you see Minister Ali, I ask that you not discriminate, and strongly advise that you refrain from making carless, thoughtless statements that are likely to alienate supporters of Donald Ramotar throughout the diaspora, as this may be misconstrued as being his policy. And if there is any doubt as to how Guyanese overseas are reacting to your ‘minimum cap‘ comment I suggest you read some of the bloggers’ comments associated with this article, and you will find they’re not as polite as this letter I’m writing.
Harry Gill

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