The President has further agreed to a request made by the less fortunate residents that, under a special arrangement, they be allowed to pay towards the cost of house lots they were allocated by the Ministry of Housing, at the rate of $500 per month until the entire cost is paid off.

And in order to bring relief to another twenty families likely to be left without homes when the 150 approved for house lots would have gotten theirs, President Jagdeo also made an on-the-spot decision yesterday for officials of the Ministry of Housing to make available another 20 house lots for the people of Tiger Bay, giving them a total of 170.

President Jagdeo gave the undertaking yesterday when he met with residents of Tiger Bay at the West End Youth Centre, during a visit to the neighbourhood.

The Head of State was at the time responding to questions and concerns raised by the residents who stated that they were not in a position to comply with a policy decision taken for them to vacate the areas they now occupy in Tiger Bay, since it was intended to be a Commercial area.

Meanwhile, the residents continue to live under cramped conditions - in one case with some 30 persons occupying one building, and with others in a virtual state of disrepair.

They stated that even though they were willing to be relocated to other areas suitable for housing purposes, they were being called upon to ‘build as soon as they got the land’, but for them, this was virtually impossible, since they could not even pay for the land, let alone ‘purchase land and build at the same time.’

After listening carefully to the residents’ concerns, President Jagdeo, out of compassion, promised that he would come to their rescue, adding, “This thing has to be a package, I am prepared to play my part, you must be prepared to play your part. We have to see this as a partnership.”

President Jagdeo said he’s prepared to instruct the Ministry of Housing to accept $500 per month from them, and to raise the $15 Million for their self housing project as well.

He said that as soon as the Budget comes out in March he would be working towards this.

“I am prepared, after the Budget to set aside $15 M to help start the relocation.” This would mean about $100,000 per house lot he said, adding that Government would set up a committee to manage the fund.

Noting that there are persons who own the land around there, and who will benefit after the relocation, the President said that they still do not want to have any social obligation. He said that he was getting the Ministry to submit a list of the names of the owners of the land, so he could put some pressure on them, with a view to getting them to help in the process.

In the meantime the President advised the residents that they should maintain their contact with corporate citizens such as Macaroni Granite who had committed to giving them assistance.

President Jagdeo also undertook to seek help from Food for the Poor with Zinc sheets to aid the building project for the residents of Tiger Bay now being relocated.

The project also has the blessing of the Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green who was present at the meeting, and whose cooperation was sought by President Jagdeo. A technical officer from the Ministry of Housing or the City Engineer’s Department is also to be made available to give technical advice concerning construction.

Meanwhile, President Jagdeo was at pains to advise the residents not to be carried away with the idea of building elaborate houses, which the money could not complete. He said that what was important was getting themselves adequately and decently sheltered, and as time goes by, additions would be made, depending on their access to funds.

Stressing that time was of the essence, President Jagdeo told the residents: “You have to move swiftly; if we don’t see any movement, I’m going to put a hold on the fund, and we are going right back to what you have to pay now.”

He further admonished: “And if you don’t move swiftly on the utilization of the fund, and participate in the self help I am withdrawing it.” To this, the residents themselves agreed. The time frame given for them to get rolling is between March and July, the President said.

President Jagdeo cautioned the residents that he would not allow a situation where one set moves out and another set moves in.

Responding to concerns from mothers about the need for facilities for recreation and for worship wherever they go to live, Minister of Housing and Water Sheikh Baksh assured that these facilities are usually provided for in his housing schemes.

Meanwhile in another humanitarian gesture, President Jagdeo made a special presentation of halversacks to school children living within the neighbourhood.