MORE than 470 transactions were conducted during the Housing and Water Ministry’s seventh ‘One Stop shop’ housing programme held in Anna Regina, at the Regional Democratic Council Hall, in Region Two last Friday.

House lot applicants, Anna Regina, Regional Democratic Council, Region Two

This initiative seeks to fulfill the national drive to modernise, transform and develop the housing sector while providing more allottees with houselots and land titles.

The Ministry’s macro plan for the housing sector in the next two years is to develop a further 17,000 houselots across the country.

The Government Information Agency reported that this is in addition to the approximately 80,000 houselots that were allocated by the Ministry since 1992, “a record that cannot be broken by any CARICOM nation”.

GINA said approximately 319 houselots will be distributed in areas including Onderneeming (250), Charity (53) and Lima (16) where approximately $19M will be spent on road upgrades in Onderneeming Phase Two.

“If you look from a practical point of view, the Ministry of Housing and Water processes per day more than 250 transactions and that is counting public holidays and weekends. This is the magnitude of work which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Water,” Minister Ali said.

Applicants being assisted by Housing and Water Ministry’s staff

Ali said his Ministry will continue to improve and develop a system that will be satisfactory to all its customers.

“We want to bring governance closer to the people, we want to bring services closer to the people, we want to reduce the burden and cost of transacting business from you the people to the government,” Minister Ali told the applicants.

The recent lifting of the commercial banks’ ceiling to $3M and the announcement by President Bharrat Jagdeo to create a $2M revolving fund, will assist potential home owners to construct their homes.

These are excellent initiatives geared towards helping persons by providing a push or a pull factor to ensure that the population’s living conditions, livelihood and economic development and growth increase, he said.

In terms of the water sector the administration has budgeted more than $600M for the development of various infrastructure in the region.

In excess of $585M was spent for the development of the housing and water sectors in 2008 and that the completion of the water treatment plant and wells will benefit more than 75,000 people in the area.

At the head table from left, CEO, CH&PA, Myrna Pitt, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali, Regional Vice-Chairman Vishanu Samaroo and CEO (acting), GWI Yuri Chandisingh

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (acting) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Mr. Yuri Chandisingh said over the years, the water company has been able to tremendously improve services to the region.

He noted, however, that there are few areas on the coast that pose challenges and continue to experience some water supply problems. He said the agency is working to correct them.
“In the near future, the entire coast will be blessed with a very good water supply system,” he said.

The CEO further noted that the company will continue to install meters throughout the country and urged residents to see this measure as a method for water conservation.

“Meters are there to help us consumers use only what we need…it is important that we are conscious and that we would only pay for what we use,” he said.

The water company, Chandisingh said will be moving ahead in the coming months to improve its technology and customer services.

Regional Vice-Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said the programme for the very first time in the region will give persons especially young people who have families the opportunity to be provided with their houselots to construct their houses.

He noted that over the years several housing schemes were established throughout the country and in the region, 15 housing schemes were created including new schemes and those which have been regularised.

“We have allocated 3021 houselots and so far from that amount we have 1663 lots occupied and 613 lots available,” he said.

Samaroo urged residents to occupy and develop their lots since there are many others awaiting the opportunity to construct their homes.

Chief Executive Officer, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Myrna Pitt said the Ministry’s recent outreaches have attained a commendable level of success and positive responses of the Authority’s efforts.

“We are embracing a quality principle of being customer focus and we are therefore seeking to become more user friendly by focusing more on you, our customers, and trying as much as possible to improve the level of service that we bring to you,” Pitt said.

The Ministry initiated the One-Stop Shop programme to help reduce the backlog in house lot applications and since its introduction, the Ministry has surpassed its target set in the 2009 Budget to distribute 4500 houselots and land titles. (GINA)