Gov’t Moves To Finalise Land Acquisition For El Dorado HDC Homes
The government is seeking to formally acquire nearly 12 acres of land off Caura Royal Road in El Dorado for public housing.
The land has 100 Housing Development Corporation (HDC) townhouses that have already been constructed and are awaiting distribution.
Speaking in the Lower House on Friday on the Land Acquisition (Requisition) Order 2026, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein appealed to the Opposition to support the measure, saying finalising the acquisition is necessary to allow the homes to be distributed to the public.
« So therefore, only when this happens, Mr. Speaker, thereafter will the houses in that area be able to be distributed as now those recipients, those purchasers, will be able to get their title. They can take the title to the bank, get their mortgages upon the properties, and therefore enter into financing arrangements for the purchases of those particular units. »
He criticised the previous administration, claiming the houses were built without proper legal title to the land.
« One will think that the State, being a responsible, prudent organisation, will ensure that if you are going to build houses on a piece of land, you own the land. At least own the land, have the title for the land. Although Section 4 of the Act, and they may come with this to say that we are allowed to take possession, why did you finish the procedure? It took a UNC administration to have completed this exercise of land acquisition. »
Meanwhile, Minister of Housing Dr. David Lee debunked claims by the Opposition that the government raised the prices of the townhouses.
« Now, so the Member raised some prices that, since underneath our watch, the Caura townhouses is no longer affordable, and the prices – she called some prices at 1.5 for the inner units and 1.7 for the outer units. Isn’t that what you said, Member, Trinity Maloney? I want to tell the member for Trincity Maloney, the prices of these townhouses are $950,000 for the inner units, and $1.1 for the outer units. »
The Land Acquisition (Requisition) Order 2026 was approved in the Lower House on Friday, with all members voting in favour.
