GINA, Georgetown, December 29, 2005

President Bharrat Jagdeo shares food to the children at Tiger Bay post- Christmas party

President Jagdeo (left) listens to concerns of residents of Tiger Bay.

GINA, Georgetown, December 29, 2005

A promise made two years ago to residents of Tiger Bay by President Bharrat Jagdeo to provide assistance to have them relocated from the deplorable conditions under which they existed has been fulfilled and the relocation process though slow, is progressing.

In an interview today with the media at the location, the President commented on his vision for the area after the relocation process would have been completed.

“A lot of the lands are owned by private individuals. If they are not going to utilise the lands then we may have to acquire some lands and make them into public facilities, maybe parking lots and so many other things the City needs now. But, if the private individuals will use their lands I will be more than happy to allow that to happen.”

Kelvin Andrews, Coordinator of the Tiger Bay Committee in an invited request from the President gave an update on the process of relocating the residents of the area.

“Seventy persons are off the ground. Already 35-50 houses have to put on the roofs to be finished. Of the 148 persons who received lands, 70 of them have already been relocated and 90 have already commenced construction.”

He said at the end of next month 60 houses would be completed.

President Jagdeo said this is a large number of persons, explaining that Government gave them some money for self-help.

Andrews said, “materials for the houses are being donated by the President, so all we have to do is work with it, work through self help and build and we are in the process of doing so currently.”

The Head of State was adamant that no one would be allowed to return to the cleared area to live.

This promise was made to improve the living conditions of those, who for years lived in derelict and unsanitary conditions in the Tiger Bay area.

In 2003, $15M was allocated by Government to help residents, to construct housing after they were relocated. More money was subsequently given to them, as well as 20 additional families from the area were assisted.

Residents of Tiger Bay also took the opportunity to raise issues of concern. The Head of State said he would soon return to the area to convene a meeting with them.

Government Information Agency (GINA)