The Ministry of Housing and Water is seeking to expedite the issuing of land titles and transports for house lots in squatter settlements and housing schemes countrywide, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported Friday.

According to Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt, the ministry is optimistic about distributing about 4,000 titles and transports this year.

But Nawbatt acknowledged that there have been some problems with the distribution process and measures have been taken by the ministry to rectify irregularities.

He recently held a meeting with the staff of the Deeds and Land Registry to discuss problems affecting land title distribution.

Meanwhile, the ministry has already handed over the relevant documentation as an initial move towards establishing the framework for the acceleration of the issuance system. In 2006, approximately 3,100 titles were issued.

According to GINA, over $1.9B was budgeted in 2006 to increase access to improved housing facilities for low-income families. Under the Low Income Settlement Programme, Phase 2, the sum of $1.1B was allocated to develop another 5,300 house lots in areas such as Zeelugt North, Hampshire South, and Williamsburg South.

The sum of $500M was also allocated for the construction of roads, drains and other structures and for the installation of a water distribution network in squatter settlements in several areas, GINA added.