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Problems in Paradise? Here are some solutions …

Aug 10, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor
I read with some interest the concerns by residents of the Paradise Housing Scheme, who I assume to be members of the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, in your letter columns of the KN Sunday edition of July 31, 2011.  I in all fairness wish to say that the issues raised are valid and should be treated with the serious consideration they deserve.
However, having said that I would be delinquent in my responsibility as a resident and member of the said Society if I did not offer some input as a way of resolving a few of the more contentious matters.
First off, I believe that the persons who are in charge of the Society’s business should be more humane and approachable in the conduct of business.
They should not only surface whenever the question of payments are to be discussed, but should make themselves available to work out options with those persons who may not have the ready funds to pay the one hundred and forty-three thousand, five hundred dollars $143,500 to acquire their land Titles.  In this regard I am suggesting that persons be required to pay the facilitation fee of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for the Ministry of Housing to commence the process of securing Title from the Land Registry.
The Title, when it becomes available, would then be kept by the Society in an arrangement whereby when all payments are made, the Title is then handed over to the person to whom the land was allocated.  One benefit of this would be in a situation where, if the resident wishes to secure a loan, the Society may act as an agent in an arrangement where the Title is provided to the lending institution as collateral and the outstanding monies owed to the Society could be paid off upon receipt of the first tranche of the approved loan.
Another area with which I am in empathy with the letter writers refers to the arbitrary actions of the Guyana Water Inc., which is refusing to connect water to residents –some of whom have been living in Paradise Housing Scheme in excess of twelve years—if they do not produce their Title or other document(s) of ownership from the Society or the Chief Cooperatives Officer.
Editor, this is morally wrong and – to my mind, legally indefensible since the authorities have a mandate under the constitution to provide potable water to every home and therefore the question of residency and not necessarily ownership is what should matter.  If I am the tenant of John Jones who resides overseas and couldn’t be bothered to pursue his Title for whatever reason, I should not be made to suffer if I have proof of address in the form of utility bills etc.
I am the first to admit that I have no legal training but the essence here is my right as a citizen to access the basic amenities that the government must provide, and not be held to ransom particularly if my financial situation is weak.
Editor, there is need for a recreational space in Paradise which incorporates the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development initiative of Community Safe Spaces, and Community Development.  To date there seems to be minimal concern for the youths, thereby bringing about a situation of aimless youths acting as if there is no solid foreseeable future.  This must be addressed by introducing something similar to the Community Action Component that exists in the Citizens Security Programme under the Ministry of Home Affairs.  I know that Community Action Specialist, Roseanne Purnwasie, is quite competent and able to organize and facilitate such an intervention since she is a successful participant of the recently concluded World Bank-organised pilot programme on Urban Crime and Violence Prevention.
There is a lot that can be done in the Paradise community but this can only be if there is a demonstrated commitment of community spirit and ownership by all.
Patrick E. Mentore

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