Far more than meets the eye

Oct 28, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Minister Rodrigues hit the nail on the head, when she commented on ‘land ownership’ becoming a reality for 37 low-income families in Berbice, in Balthyock Housing Scheme, Mahaica-Berbice Region Five. In her charge to the recipients, she noted that providing housing solutions for low-income and vulnerable groups is a major priority for the government. She stated that, “We know how much it means to the ordinary Guyanese to be able to own a plot of land and to own a home.” What the minister said needs some elaboration, as too many are still taking for granted what is happening in Guyana, as regards home ownership.
Dr. Megan Sandel, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, at Boston University School of Medicine, stated a few years ago that, “A safe, decent, affordable home is like a vaccine. It literally prevents disease. A safe home can prevent mental health and developmental problems; a decent home may prevent asthma or lead poisoning; and an affordable home can prevent stunted growth and unnecessary hospitalisations.” This is like ‘wow’. So, outside of the actual physical home, what is happening is that people’s overall well-being is given quite a shot-in-the-arm.
We know that on retaking leadership of Guyana in August 2020, the government did make a promise to deliver 50,000 house lots during its five-year tenure, and all seems more than okay in terms of the fulfilling of this commitment. The latest word is that the government is set to “… not only deliver on its promise of 10,000 house lots … by year end, but may exceed it.” This was the word of Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues just recently.
When she said this, the figure stood at 8,000, and she noted that “We have at least 3,000 more to be allocated for 2021,” and so this Balthyoch event backs her drive-in terms of surpassing the target. Then for added impetus, the minister announced the development of another area close by, which will yield another 300 house lots for residents. She detailed that, “There are over 3,500 outstanding applications in our backlog, so we have to work assiduously to make house lots available for this region.”
Let me add that home ownership helps citizens build wealth. According to the Census Bureau, homeowners on average have a net worth that is 80 times higher than that of renters. Some of this is because people who are in a better financial position tend to be more likely to buy a home. The implication here is that “earnability” is getting better for the average Guyanese, as they start to own their own homes. So, there is ‘far more than meets the eye,’ as in getting a home, the entire mental and physical well-being of people are truly enhanced.

Yours truly,
Alvin Hamilton

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