In a response to a recent letter writer who complained about the lack of progress in the Central Amelia’s Ward scheme, the Minister of Housing Shaik Baksh pointed out that over the last decade 92 housing schemes had been established and up to the end of last year 99 squatting areas were being regularised. It was the policy of his ministry, he noted, to install basic infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water and bridges in an incremental manner. Under the Government of Guyana-Inter-American Development Bank Low Income Settlements Programme 13 housing schemes are to be provided with completed infrastructure including 1,000 lots in Amelia’s Ward. Phase 2 of this project will see another 12 large schemes being similarly equipped.

Inevitably there will be grievances and grouses with the pace of progress in what under any circumstance is a massive undertaking. While it was relatively easy to decide on the handing out of lots, doing this in an orderly manner and making certain that transparent criteria were set out and observed would not have been the easiest of tasks. Moreover, handing out lots in swampy, undeveloped areas with nothing but dirt tracks and without the semblance of infrastructure could deflate even the greatest of optimists. Expectations have undoubtedly been raised and dashed in the course of the housing drive. It would be useful if at some stage the minister can give a detailed breakdown of where houselots have been allocated, how many were taken up, on how many of these lots houses were built and the level of infrastructure made available so far.

The main challenge now for the government and Minister Baksh is to accelerate the pace of development of these housing schemes and to do this in as transparent a manner as possible. In the context of the joint communiqué between President Jagdeo and Mr Corbin, a revised report on house lot distribution has been prepared to take account of earlier concerns. Hopefully this report will be put on the front-burner and form the basis for changes to allow greater satisfaction with the programme.

The changes must deal with reports of corruption and favouritism that abound with respect to the allocation of lots and development of infrastructure. Undoubtedly some of these charges are unfounded and are attributable to frustration and misperceptions. Nevertheless, were there to be some appeals mechanism which had the confidence of the masses and to which one could petition and have such claims investigated the system would be improved immeasurably.

In the awarding of infrastructural works for the various schemes and the regularizing of squatting areas, the Ministry of Housing has to ensure that it can justify on solid grounds which of the areas will benefit first. There must be some established criteria for e.g. the size of the community, the age of the scheme, proximity to water and electrical plant etc.

With respect to the distribution of houselots and the regularising of housing schemes, the ministry must make certain that there is no jumping of the queue and that adequate attention is paid to keeping impeccable paperwork. There continue to be claims that persons who had applied long before others or had occupied lots in squatting areas have been leapfrogged by some who are recent arrivals in the city or have no legitimate claim to houselots.

There have also been complaints that many young working class couples have been unable to secure lots because they have no children. This should not be. Some couples quite rightly decide to have children later in life when they are more financially able to provide for them. Yet they have as important a need as other couples to strike out on their own and not have to live with extended families where tension is rife and other pressures arise. Perhaps the criteria for prioritising who is entitled to a houselot need to be reviewed.

The handing out of houselots is undoubtedly a success story. The government however has to work on ensuring that fairness is the guiding principle and that the enabling environment is nurtured to ensure that the lot doesn’t become a grass-overgrown pasture but is transformed into a home for the Guyanese family.