Government’s Latest Attempt at a Housing Project For The Low-Income Group

Slow progress on Government’s latest bid to house low-income families. 52 units still to be completed after 18 months.

SPEAKING on an opposition motion on housing in the National Assembly two weeks ago, Parliamentary Secretary Leroy Scotland in his maiden speech told the Assembly, in response to criticisms, that the Government has a well organised housing programme. He referred to self-help activities and said the construction of units is in progress at a number of locations including De Kinderen.

Stabroek News decided to visit De Kinderen to see how things were progressing. It is situated on the West Coast of Demerara, about 12 miles from Vreed-en-Hoop.

Our reporter ascertained that the project was started in June 1986. There are 28 lots for aided self-help and 28 lots for private development. So far, only 4 houses have been completed to the point where habitation is possible.

Those who are supposed to benefit from this venture are mainly soldiers, policemen and members of the People’s Militia, but a teacher and a Guysuco worker are also included.

The project has virtually stagnated because of the slow rate at which materials are supplied from ONE of the four units that is just habitable. The housing crunch has forced this family to move in even though there is still a lot of work to be done

Georgetown.

One main road runs down the middle of the project to houses that are without electricity and potable water which must be obtained from some distance away. Secondly, roads are presumably to be developed in the future.

A supervisor of the Ministry of Housing quickly arrived on the scene and objected to the investigation. He could not understand why a newspaper would be interested in such a project, “What do you want to know?” he asked in a puzzled voice. The Dream: the Plan for the Stadium. It will certainly be a ‘beaut’ if it ever becomes a reality.