Gov’t can take steps to end speculation with house lots, commercial plots

It is an irrefutable fact that one of the biggest drivers of our economy is the housing and industrial estates campaigns of the current Government of Guyana.

Our land allocation process has triggered for more than two decades now an unprecedented expansion which has deposited untold wealth in the hands of thousands of Guyanese.

From the commercial banks, to lawyers, canter and sand trucks, sand pits, legal fees, hardware supplies and shipping companies, it is a fact that big names like Gafoors and National Hardware are hard-pressed to keep up with demands.

Thousands of house lots and acres of commercial and industrial plots have been allocated since 2020 after the PPP/C government under President Irfaan Ali took office.

It has brought severe challenges to the country as sand trucks and other transporters clog our congested roadways to meet demands and deadlines.

A major challenge has been allegations of corruption within the Central Housing and Planning Authority and dishonesty at the level of many allottees.

It is a fact that many allottees have been speculating on the demand for quality Bed and Breakfast, apartment buildings and development of plots into house lots.

Over the years, there have been loud whispers of persons receiving or holding house lots just for the sake of reselling for hefty profits.

CH&PA has developed policies to halt wrongdoings in the allocation process.

For example, house lots can only be allocated if the applicant(s) are not owners of homes or housing lands in Guyana. That policy explains itself…the targets and priority have to be Guyanese who are renting or living with families.

Another policy that was well thought out was the restriction of 10 years before allocated house lots can be sold. Guyanese, being who they are, found a way around that…something called an Irrevocable Power of Attorney which places ultimate rights in the hands of third party… at least that is what lawyers tell you.

Through this scenario, thousands of house lots earmarked for poor families who on their application declared they badly…nay desperately needed one… ended up in the hands of persons who generally owned other properties.

There are many cases of applications for commercial applicants who apply with a business plan for large plots and then promptly build a bond for rental. There is little wrong with this but CH&PA must clearly weigh the greater good for the country and this must be in favour of what is for the long term good.

Clearly, CH&PA is hard-pressed to monitor the alleged wrongdoings.

While the banks require a title or transport for mortgages, CH&PA can institute systems or even a guarantee letter which house lot allottees can present to those banks. The final title or transport will only be issued when that allottee has complied with putting up a home or a structure in keeping with the application.

The Government should make a policy pronouncement on the use of the Irrevocable Power of Attorney. In fact, the only transfer that can be effected is if that allottee(s) decide to gift to their children or child.

For the public’s consumption, an industrial lot is presently selling for $350m along Red Road, Providence. Several industrial lots are presently up for rent.

An empty house lot presently in Eccles AA housing scheme is selling for $57m. This lot was purchased from the government for $60,000 dollars.

We can explore options of allottees selling back the property to government if there are no children to pass it down to.

It should be policy that when a person is granted an industrial lot they have to tell the government what kind of business they want to establish. A transport or title should not be issued until the proposed development takes place. The allottees should be barred from selling and only allowed to pass it to family members.

Poor families should also not be receiving house lots as it is a major hurdle to construction for many of them. Rather, they should receive turn-key homes. It is accepted that under no circumstances that these can be sold but rather passed on to family members.

Our lands are among the most valuable of our resources in Guyana.

It cannot be given away to persons who are speculating while thousands of poor Guyanese await in lines for a house lot.