For Ghanshanimie Balkarran, land of her own means she no longer has to endure being told to leave her mother’s house. For Mahadai Jaipersaud, it means an escape from a husband who torments her when he drinks. For Keisha Halley, it means finally putting down roots after years of renting.
The three women were among several Region Five families who walked away with more than just paperwork on Thursday, as the Ministry of Housing hosted a house lot allocation exercise at its Fort Wellington office, handing out plots within the Waterloo/Bath Housing Development.
For many recipients, the allocation closed out years of waiting and difficult living conditions, opening the door to homes they can finally call their own.
Balkarran, 55, a domestic worker of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, described the moment as life-changing.
“I feel so happy and so glad. I live with my mother in a little house and every day my family tells me I have to leave because they don’t want me there. Now I’m an owner of land and I’m very glad. All my children are happy for me too. I’m very, very happy.
As soon as I can, I will move out and start my own life,” she said.
Ronetta Moore, 30, a single mother of three, applied for a house lot in 2024 and said she was overjoyed to finally receive one.
“I feel proud and happy that I got through. I would love to build a house for me and my three children. It means a lot,” Moore said.
For Jaipersaud, 53, a part-time government worker from Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice, the land represents both security and independence.
“I feel so happy because I never had land before. I plan to build a house and move there. My husband and I live together, but when he drinks, he torments me. I’m glad I got this land because nobody can tell me anything now,” she said.
Amir Khan, 39, a labourer from Cotton Tree Village and father of three, said persistence finally paid off after several unsuccessful attempts.
“It’s exciting because I’ve tried many times and never got through. When I received the call to come here, it was very delightful and joyful. My wife, children and I are all excited. Now we can move forward and start building our home,” Khan said.
Halley, 25, a field assistant attached to Vector Control Services in Mahaicony, said years of renting made the moment even more meaningful. She and her husband are looking forward to building a home where they can raise their four children.
“I feel great because I’ve been renting for a long time, so I’m very excited. I plan to start building as soon as I see the land. It means we can get an early start and put things in place for our children as they grow,” she said.
The allocation follows the Ministry of Housing and Water’s major housing drive in June, when more than 900 house lots were allocated within the Tract ‘A’ Hope and Tract ‘A’ Waterloo Housing Developments in Rosignol. The ministry also distributed more than 250 Certificates of Title during that exercise, part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to expand homeownership opportunities across the region.
