Leeome Jacobs had been waiting since 2011 for a piece of land. On Monday, the mother of three finally got through, and within minutes, the years-long wait was over.
Jacobs was among thousands of Guyanese who showed up at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal on Monday for a public consultation led by Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.
According to her, she applied for her land back in 2011, but the process stalled for over a decade.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), she mentioned that she returned to try again, and this time, the process was smooth.
“I came to talk to the minister himself…I got right on with him. He was positive with me, and the process was very good.”
By the end of the day, the survey department in the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) had confirmed her allocation and scheduled her to see her plot of land the following morning.
“I have three children, and I am alone,” Jacobs told The Department of Public Information (DPI), “the outcome really encourages me. It means a lot.”
Housing issues emerged as one of the most pressing concerns during the engagement with residents, Afaina Agaid also arriving with land-related issues.
Agaid had learned about the event through social media and made her way to the ACCC. She left the location with her land allocation confirmed.
“I’m satisfied. I’m happy,” she said with relief.
Katrene [only name given], who lives along the Soesdyke-Linden highway, braved the rain to have her issue voiced.
“I did not expect to see so many people,” she said. “I come to one person, and I end up going to different agencies and ministries where I would have gotten positive responses.”
Meeting people where they are has been the hallmark of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration over the years, with thousands of issues being resolved immediately.
In addition to national outreaches, the various ministers hold their own public days at their respective offices.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has introduced monthly cabinet outreaches, where ministers fan out across communities to address residents’ concerns, assess local conditions, and advance development priorities.
These initiatives align with the government’s ongoing push for direct, people-centred governance.