By Nakasia Logan
In an eagerly anticipated development, thousands of individuals allocated lands at Blocks 13 and 18 in Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), are poised to access their properties by June.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, provided this assurance during a recent visit to the area, where he met with the project’s contractor.
Block 13, encompassing seven lots, holds a total of 1,883 lots, while Block 18 spans 2,208 acres and has allotted land to approximately 1,700 individuals.
Minister Croal underscored the government’s commitment to facilitating beneficiaries in identifying their lots, enabling them to commence construction of their homes.
Minister Croal outlined the timeline, indicating that the first set of persons allocated in Block 18 will start receiving notifications by mid-May, with all individuals in both Block 18 and 13 expected to receive notifications by the end of May, ensuring access to their land by June.
Emphasizing the importance of meeting deadlines, Minister Croal highlighted the application of liquidated damages if contractors exceed the stipulated timeline, set to conclude by April 30.
He stressed accountability and the government’s responsibility to expedite the completion of works to accommodate citizens eagerly awaiting access to their land.
Substantial investments have been made in infrastructural development in Block 13, totaling approximately $3.3 billion, with an additional $569 million allocated for supplementary works.
Overall, a total expenditure of $3.6 billion is earmarked to provide essential infrastructure, including road networks and bridges, for allottees.
Despite challenges, Minister Croal expressed satisfaction with the progress of infrastructural works in the area, affirming the Ministry’s commitment to exhaust available lands for housing along the East Bank corridor, underscoring its dedication to providing housing access for citizens.
As anticipation builds for the realization of their homeownership dreams, beneficiaries eagerly await the completion of infrastructural works, heralding a new chapter in their journey towards homeownership in Golden Grove, EBD.