As Guyanese usher in a new year, dozens of families from Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo, are doing so with something generations before them never had — legal ownership of the land they call home.
On the final day of 2025, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali handed over land titles to long-standing residents of the community, ending decades of uncertainty and informal occupancy and opening the door to stability, dignity and new economic opportunity.
For many, the moment was deeply emotional.
Prakash Indar, beaming with pride as he received his title at State House, said the day was one he had waited a lifetime to see.
“We have waited such a long time for this land title, but now that I have it, I know I was not waiting in vain. I’m so happy,” Indar said.
For generations, families in Greenwich Park lived on lands without formal ownership, a reality that limited access to financing, stifled development and left residents vulnerable despite decades of occupation. That chapter officially closed on Wednesday.
Describing the exercise as both the end of a long struggle and the beginning of a new chapter, President Ali personally presented the certificates to residents, emphasising the transformative power of land ownership.
“For generations, many people died without having ownership. You could not realise the true value of the land,” the President said, recalling the complex legal, administrative and boundary issues that delayed regularisation for years.
He explained that the regularisation process began as early as 2009, with block and occupational surveys completed. However, progress stalled between 2015 and 2020 when the initiative was abandoned. Following the government’s return to office in 2020, the process was revived, with allocation letters, agreements of sale and the final phase of title processing moving forward.
“In your area, about 34 allocation letters were issued, and today I am pleased to say that 25 titles are ready, with 15 families receiving their certificates this afternoon,” President Ali announced, drawing loud applause from the gathering.
In a further show of relief, the President directed the Ministry of Housing to waive approximately $35,000 in survey, conveyancing and administrative fees for each beneficiary, citing the more than 40 years many families had waited for legal ownership.
“This is why government matters. Who you choose to represent you matters,” he said, noting that the ceremony was deliberately held before year-end so families would not enter 2026 without their titles in hand.
President Ali underscored that land ownership is a critical tool for empowerment, enabling families to access financing to expand or improve their homes and invest in small businesses. He announced that arrangements will be put in place with the New Building Society and commercial banks to ensure new title holders can access mortgage financing.
“This day is for you, and for your parents and family members who did not live to see this moment. Today, you enter the New Year with new hope and new aspirations,” the Head of State said, thanking residents for their patience and cooperation over the years.
He also acknowledged the Ministry of Housing and its technical teams, many of whom have been involved in the process since 2009, for seeing the regularisation exercise through to completion.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to issuing land titles nationwide, from Region One to Region Ten, during his current term, while acknowledging the scale and complexity of the task, particularly in densely populated regions.
Residents of Cotton Field, Region Two, are also slated to benefit, with a land title distribution exercise scheduled for January 9, to be led by President Ali. [Extracted and modified from DPI]
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