Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President Ms. Jennifer Webster, National Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs) Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury and Chairman of the Tiger Bay Committee and member of the Relocation Committee Mr. Kelvin Andrews at the West End Youth Centre to discuss issues hindering residents from constructing their houses. (OP/Sandra Prince photo)

Georgetown , GINA, January 3, 2006

Residents of West End, commonly known as Tiger Bay, along Main Street, Georgetown today pledged their full support to the self-help process through which houses are being constructed to facilitate re-location of residents from the area.

At present, residents live in derelict buildings, many of which have been condemned by the Public Health Department. They are privately owned.

The pledges followed a meeting they had with Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President Ms. Jennifer Webster, National Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs) Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury and Chairman of the Tiger Bay Committee and member of the Relocation Committee Mr. Kelvin Andrews at the West End Youth Centre to discuss issues hindering residents from contributing to the process.

About four years ago, Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo pledged $15M towards building materials for 150 families. The money has been delivered and to date construction is ongoing on more than 75 houses, through a self-help initiative. While the President provided the money, the residents agreed to pool their labour in groups and build the houses. However, many of them have not been contributing their labour.

Tiger Bay resident at a meeting to at the West End Youth Centre to discuss issues hindering residents from constructing their houses. (OP/Sandra Prince photo)

 “The President has kept his commitment to provide the funds, but you have not kept your promise to give your labour. Do I have a commitment that you will pool all your labour and together complete these houses?” the Permanent Secretary queried.

This was greeted by fervent pledges of “yes” from residents.

Most of the materials supplied to residents are laid to waste, especially at Tuschen Housing Scheme. The officials lamented this and implored residents to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure their homes are constructed before the deadlines as according to Ms. Webster, “the project cannot keep rolling over to every year.”

Additionally, Mrs. Sahoye-Shury told them that if their houses are not built before the derelict buildings they occupy are demolished, then Government would not be able to do much for them.

To date the $15M is almost exhausted. In 2004, President Jagdeo told residents if the money was utilised in a timely manner for the initiative, then he would have provided additional finding. However, there have been several lapses in the project and the Relocation Committee, chaired by Mrs. Sahoye-Shury, is requesting the additional funding to complete the project.

The President has instructed the Committee, Andrews said, to have 50 houses ready by February and 37 by April. After this, the Committee would be responsible for the construction of the remaining 61 houses before the end of 2006. Originally, there were 153 lots given: Grove/Diamond - 68 house lots; Tuschen - 40 house lots, Belfield 30 and Haslington 12 house lots. In 2004, President Jagdeo extended the programme to include an additional 20 families. He noted that the Ministry will work with residents to ensure they have land for these 20 families. However, the President said that only families who were living in Tiger Bay at the time the first programme was announced are entitled to be part of the additional 20. However, because of the problems being experienced with the initial batch, the additional 20 lots have not been allocated.

Today, the Government officials were told of untimely provision of materials being one of the main setbacks. According to Andrews, this is because of lack of transportation. Ms. Webster said this will be corrected and residents, including those working by themselves, would be given materials, as they become available.

Several residents also claimed that even though their names were on the list, they were not given house lots, while others contended that the Ministry of Housing is unable to provide transports. Mrs. Sahoye-Shury, who is based at the Ministry of Housing, would examine individual cases.

Additionally, 20 residents were relocated to GUYHOC Park, but they too, have not cooperated with the Committee in having their houses built.

“Work hard to get your houses completed. The success of this project depends on you. I am sure you do not want to live forever under these circumstances. We are here to support you. So make the best out of the initiative,” Ms. Webster urged residents.

Tiger Bay residents also complained of inappropriate treatment by an official of the Low Income Settlement Programme at the Ministry of Housing Mr. PK Balram when they turn up to make payments on their house lots. Mrs. Sahoye-Shury said this should not be so, since President Jagdeo has approved concessions for the residents to pay whatever sums they can afford to the Ministry for the land, until the entire cost of the plot is completed.

This assistance is being given to Tiger Bay based on the understanding that when they are relocated, no one else can occupy the West End buildings, as these would be demolish

Georgetown , GINA, January 3, 2006