Lombard Street residents forced to live under deplorable conditions; gov’t to intervene

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One of the many dwelling houses located at Lombard and Broad Street which residents have been occupying for years.
Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence making her way through an alley at Lombard and Board streets to get a first hand view of the living conditions at that location.
Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence making her way through an alley at Lombard and Board streets to get a first hand view of the living conditions at that location.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Residents occupying an area along Lombard Street have been given the assurance that while there may not be an immediate solution to their issues, there will be a comprehensive one in the near future.

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence gave this assurance during a recent visit to residents living along the Lombard and Broad Streets area.

A GINA report noted that the Minister told the residents, who are currently living under deplorable conditions that their voices were heard at the recent elections, and it is time for the new government to intervene.

The residents were however reminded that the changes which are needed will not happen overnight as their issues are wide ranging, but it will take strategic planning for a comprehensive solution.

Minister Lawrence lends a listening ear to residents who turned out to air their concerns.
Minister Lawrence lends a listening ear to residents who turned out to air their concerns.

Minister Lawrence advised the residents, many of whom live in cramped shacks and are forced to sleep on the floor that the new administration will be working to bring about better housing solutions that will cater to individual needs.

Acknowledging that there are some challenges when persons are issued with house lots and cannot afford to pay for them, and the issue of high mortgage, Ms. Lawrence said the new housing plans would see homes being built to suit the individual needs of families at a cost they can afford.

One of the many dwelling houses located at Lombard and Broad Street which residents have been occupying for years.
One of the many dwelling houses located at Lombard and Broad Street which residents have been occupying for years.

The Minister told the residents that she was not pleased with the conditions under which the children are forced to grow up as the environment is not conducive.

Meanwhile some residents informed the Minister that they have made application to the Ministry of Housing for a house lot several years ago, and they are still waiting.

Other residents said they were invited into the Housing Ministry and asked to pay $200,000 cash in order to acquire houses under a Food for the Poor initiative. However that amount for many of the residents was too high, and they were not given any time to acquire the money.

In the interim, the Minister urged the residents to be patient as she reiterated that the relevant authorities are working on new strategies to address their concerns.

 

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14 COMMENTS

  1. It s only a certain type of people living like that,,,they r so lazy they dont mean to get up and get work for what they want….granger will go soon to front road and look after his people there 2….what a joke…. lazy ppl..

  2. Sorry bro but the all not jagdeo type, so ppp is only for one type,,,the the C in ppp was only to fool people. Look at Sam blinds,,,

  3. No one is forced to live under these condition, (who forced who to sleep on the ground or in a leaky house? the government?

  4. Why all this long comments, no need for all this, who ever living there is just out right LAZY no one live like that is this time in Guyana!

    Which ever g/ment in power or not had nothing to do with LAZY people.

  5. Thank you for your comment Ms. Bibi, I think people should open there eyes and see the world before seeing the Government is always wrong or supposed to fix everything. The government put up training school for the drop out and less educated to attend, why those men don’t go??? They want every dam thing FREE while others working them ass out for it…. Thanks, Bibi… You seem to be the ONLY sensible person on this forum.

  6. Seem like Mr. / Ms. “Side Kick” have acquired PPP membership without inform us, guys… But since you have acquired PPP Membership, I am sure you will start take your monthly, weekly, daily salaries to those people IF you are REAL human BEING…

  7. Who ask those people to continue live there, GREEN GIANT?????????? I hope it is not you…. please see my previous comment…

  8. These people are not smart they should have acquired PPP membership which would have afforded them mansions like Jagdeo and his crew.

  9. This is deplorable living conditions and an embarrassment in this 21st century. Who own these buildings? All the strong men in the picture with the minister should be ashamed to have their wives and the women and children live under these conditions. The strong young and older men can at least paint and repair and clean up their living conditions. Even if they are not owners of the properties what about pride, cleanliness, beauty .Are these men and women”free loaders” as the Green Giant said. Teach them woodworking, painting and plumbing, cement work under the supervision of a certified construction individuals, let all these individuals who live under these conditions fix and maintain their dwellings. In the end, they can also be hired in the construction field as they will be learning a skill/trade. Create a program, sweat equity for them to remodel their homes or living quarters, as seen in the picture which can garner them employment in the construction industry in Guyana after they remodel their homes. Let the Chinese who are building so much in Guyana donate the paint, brush, etc and teach them how to do the work and hire the men and even the women once they see their remodeling work. Just make sure that the paint do not have lead as well as the pipes. That must be monitored for lead paint and lead pipe which is dangerous to the health of children and adults. Let the women also help to do work in cleaning and beautifying their living quarters. Are they paying rent? In the photograph, you see healthy young men and women meeting with the minister. Teach them the trade mention earlier and give the the tools needed to become more productive. Men and women step up and provide better life for yourself and family..

    Work to get out of poverty, you have choices, make the choice to work for a better life not stay in poverty. The government can help somewhat but the men and women must step up and make their life better, learn a trade, skill, get educated have pride and live a productive life.

    Stop this embarrassment and shame. Ever day in the news, killings, drugs, guns, stabbing, theft. That life is for hooligans not Guyanese who are brilliant productive people. Stop the embarrassment and do what is right.

    Minister Lawrence should implement a sweat equity program for people living in these deplorable conditions like Lombard and Broad Street. Teach the men and women to engage in cleaning, painting, masonry, plumbing work to remodel their living conditions by providing the tools and material which must be under the leadership of a certified construction teacher. Making sure that the tools and material are being used for that specific purpose.

    If a landlord is involved, he should be fined for the unsafe conditions of his tenant. If they are squatters and the owners are not living here in Guyana, they should be notified and fined and warned to return and secure their building. There are lots of unsafe and disrepair buildings not being maintained by individuals who no longer live in Guyana. Something should be done about that also. Either they repair, sell or return to the government.

  10. Meanwhile back at the ranch of business as usual the high and mighty live in magical mansions in palatial splendor. While these Guyanese citizens occupy rat infested hovels. A national disgrace is what this is. Of course we know the ethnicity of the residents – for the most part anyway. Results? No one gives a rats ass about them.

  11. take all the hard working taxpayers money and pump it out to free loaders is no problem..Lombard Street residents forced to live under deplorable conditions; gov’t to intervene…Forced? Really?

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