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House lot holders evicted from Charity scheme
– claim plots paid for through official channels
Disparity in the distribution of house lots was recently amplified with the issuance of eviction notices to a specific group of residents of the Charity Extension Housing Scheme, Region Two.
Though their lots are neatly placed within the layout of the growing, posh housing scheme, the residents, who reside in modest structures, were told they are on state reserves.
The houses said to be on state reserves
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Christopher Jones, who visited the residents on Monday, does not believe that the residents are living on reserves owing to the position of their lots. He strongly believes the residents are being evicted because their “humble abodes” are contrasting the grand housing establishment that is being developed. He stressed that the entire situation “appears fishy” and needs to be properly investigated.
According to a female resident, the Housing Officer in Region Two spray-painted the letter “X” onto four houses, including hers, and slipped eviction notices under the doors. They were given seven days to evacuate.
The resident said the lands are paid for and have been occupied for numerous years. She claims that she paid $90,000 initially for her plot and was asked to pay $210,000 additionally, at a One Stop Shop exercise, for the same land.
Another resident, Malika English, said that December last year she paid a Housing Officer $50,000 for her plot and was required to pay $50,000 more to conclude payments. Following the issuance of the eviction notice on 26 September, 2013, she went to the Housing Officer to pay the remaining amount, but he refused to collect the money.
Meanwhile, Quacy Hector, also a resident, pointed out if the residents were squatting on reserves how it was that the eviction letters issued have lot numbers. Hector said he is willing to pay for the land if given the opportunity.
According to Jones, the Housing Officer told him via a telephone conversation that the residents would have to wait until Officials from the Ministry of Housing visit the area for a decision to be made on the matter.
Jones emphasized that the residents are poor Guyanese trying to provide a shelter for their families. They are residing within a housing scheme and are being told they are on reserves.
“This is unacceptable, since wealthy so-called housing developers are being given acres of land by government to build posh houses to retail at high cost to make huge profits. The prices are beyond the reach of Guyanese public servants such as nurses, teachers, and ranks of the Guyana Police Force.”
“Also, many cash crop farmers, single parents, and fishermen cannot even begin to dream of owning such grand houses. Now, their humble abodes are being targeted for demolition. They toil for many back-breaking years to get money to pay for their lands and building materials to build their houses,” he said.
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