Some fifty-five households that have been occupying lands at Plantation Hope – Cum Annexis for decades are inline to receive their Land Titles/Transports soon.
On Saturday, Minister of Housing and Water, the Honourable Collin Croal, met with several of the residents, at the Hope Estate Compound, in keeping with a promise he made two weeks prior.
“Today, we are here committed to bringing this aspect of the ownership to completion for you and your families,” the Minister told residents. Through Saturday’s activity, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) initiated the verification of documents, which the Minister noted is one of the first steps in the land titling process.
Hon. Collin Croal, Minister of Housing and Water addresses residents
The initiative was well received by residents, who noted that they feared the longstanding issue would never be resolved. Forty-eight (48) year old, Ms. Rajkumarie Budhu is one of these residents. She stated that she has been living at Plantation Hope – Cum Annexis all of her life and is relieved that her life-long wish to possess ownership will finally become a reality.
“It’s a very long time, we born and grow here and we didn’t get nothing and we thankful that today, we finally gon’ get we title and everything gon’ be so good,” Ms. Budhu said.
Her father, Mr. Parasram Budhu, who is sixty-nine (69) years old, also voiced his contentment with the work of the Ministry, as he too has a portion of land. He described his experience without an ownership document to the parcel of land as challenging, since it has limited his abilities to develop the land in the way he desired.
Ms. Rajkumarie Budhu (right) and Mr. Parasram Budhu (left)
Another resident, Ms. Malinie Bhola, has been residing on a portion of the land for over eighteen (18) years. Ms. Bhola is a mother of five (5) and she stated that for her, receiving her Land Title/Transport will aid in the provision of a better life for herself and children.
“I feel glad that I waiting so long and I glad that I [will] get my paper and get through with my land,” said Ms. Bhola.
Ms. Malinie Bhola
Plantation Hope – Cum Annexis was originally a sugar plantation bought after the Indentureship period and repurposed for coconut cultivation. It became the Hope Coconut Industry Ltd. in the 1970s and was managed by a Board until the government took over in 1992 and eventually phased out the coconut cultivation. The land has since been developed into a housing scheme with close to 400 lots. Minister Croal also announced that in 2022, the Ministry of Housing and Water plans to allocate a number of house lots in the area, as part of its flagship ‘Dream Realised’ Housing Drive.
