Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said, to meet the promise, by President Bharrat Jagdeo, of making 17,000 more house lots available by 2012, the Ministry will be embarking on numerous new developments.

He said the Ministry had, in the National Budget, set a target of 1,500 house lots to be distributed this year and that number has been exceeded.

Ali said new areas are presently being developed in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) to meet demands also in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and his ministry has been successful in acquiring more lands for development, including at Anna Catherina, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt and Tuschen, all in Region Three.

“These developments would complement the ongoing infrastructure work at Onderneeming and Schoonord on West Bank Demerara,” he stated.

According to him, it is anticipated that, by the middle of next year, at least 4,000 house lots would be ready for allocation in Region Three.

Minister Ali said, by the end of last July, the Ministry had surpassed the scheduled 3,000 interviews for 2009, by more than 50 per cent.

“We are making an appeal to any person who would have applied before May 2008 to come into the Ministry to have their interviews completed so our target, by the end of this year, would be met and all documentation finalised for the required allocation,” he explained.

About the processing of titles, Ali said the Ministry has, by more than 10 per cent, passed the 2,500 issue for 2009 and, to date, has received another 700 new house lot applications.

“So our targets for 2009 have been accomplished qualitatively and quantitatively. However, we are pushing to have a further 200 lots disbursed at Non Pariel and 500 at Onderneeming Phase II by year-end,” he said.

“We are, therefore, asking applicants to be patient as we try to expeditiously conclude infrastructure works to make these lots available,” Ali appealed.

AVAILABILITY
He also mentioned the availability of approximately 200 lots in Bath, in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Number 76, in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) within the same time.

Ali said the Ministry is negotiating with the relevant stakeholders for more land to develop in Region Four.

“We are pleased with the number of allottees moving from land ownership to home ownership. Figures we have received, so far, from New Building Society and other lending institutions suggest a steep increase in loan applications and approvals for construction,” he reported.

Ali reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to seek after persons who are speculating with their allocations and are involved in the illegal sale of house lots.

“We also wish to remind allottees of their commitment to construction as this is the basis on which house lots are allocated. Should they fail to respect this commitment, the Ministry will have no other choice but to repossess the lands,” he said.

Ali said the Administration has been undertaking a number of interventions to advance housing and Government continues to significantly develop such as roads, drainage, irrigation, water and electricity systems.

He revealed that Government, last June, approved an increase in the ceiling of loans granted by approved mortgage finance companies for the benefit of low income earners.

Ali reminded that the Ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) successfully introduced its ‘One Stop Shop’ programme, in March, to decentralise its services to people across the Administrative Regions and created an automated online application system to develop and enhance the information management and provide overall support to its customers.
It had even embarked on a process to interview applicants on the 2008 backlog.