New CH&PA boss wants EBD Land Developers to deliver

May 02, 2017 News

– commences engagement process

Years after the previous administration – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

CH&PA CEO, Lelon Saul

– granted large swathes of land to private developers, many are yet to fulfil their contractual obligations to the state in delivering quality and affordable housing to the populace.
The intention by the former regime was to sell the lands to the developers in order to aid the government in providing homes to citizens since the backlog of applicants had risen to an all-time high of over 20,000. These lands were sold below market value.
However, there were instances where developers sold these lands to other private entities making massive profits while the house lot applications in the system at the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) rose beyond 25,000.
The current administration – A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) – during its 2015 elections campaign trail, promised to resolve the matter.
Soon after getting in to office, a ministerial visit was carried out in some of the locations and revealed that contractors were unable to carry out even the necessary infrastructural works.
One government official had called it a “Wild West” situation. Contractors were given additional time to deliver.
It is still unclear if that time has elapsed. However, some lands that were given to private developers are now home to cattle.
Plans were revealed by the David Granger-led administration to take back some of these lands as the struggle to provide house lots to citizens increased.
Persons, who were desirous of obtaining lots on the East Bank of Demerara, were forced to accept lands at a different location, since it was revealed that lands were no longer available in the desired areas. Government has since rolled out its plan to implement duplexes in order to satisfy this demand.
Newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA Lelon Saul, told Kaieteur News that the authority is now in the process of engaging some of the private developers to find out what some of their challenges

The CH&PA wants East Bank Demerara Private Developers to deliver on their promises they made to acquire large swathes of lands.

are.
“Since I have arrived there, I have called some of them in and we are satisfied with some of the progress being made, but there are other developers that we are yet to engage. We would like to see them move the process forward and deliver.” Saul said.
He noted also that the CH&PA was unsuccessful in arranging engagements with some of these developers. He added that at least two entities are yet to be located to schedule these meetings.
Saul acknowledged the urgency in resolving the issue and noted that his staff is working assiduously to ensure that the developers deliver.
Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had told a section of the media earlier this year that advice is being sought from the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, due to the legal nature surrounding the acquisition of these state lands by the developers.
Williams told Kaieteur News after a press conference at the National Communications Network, that he could not say if his Chambers had received the request and was therefore, not equipped to offer a comment to this publication.