The Ministry of Housing and Water Saturday continued its ‘One Stop Shop’ initiative at the Hope Secondary School, Hope Estate, for house lot applicants on the East Coast of  Demerara.
Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said that the process of allocating lots on the East Coast was somewhat stymied due to extra topographical concerns with the land.
Minister Ali pointed out that after the floods of 2005, it was discovered that the terrain along the East Coast forms itself into a natural basin in which water settles, thus making some areas unsuitable for construction. Those areas that were deemed suitable had to undergo re-engineered designs in the layout to ensure future infrastructural safety.
The Minister said that the exercise was part of the overarching programme which should see the target of 17,000 house lots distributed before year end. He noted too that this demonstrates Government’s commitment to the task of ensuring the lives of Guyanese are bettered to forge greater community spirit.
The approximately 278 house lots targeted for distribution in Hope Estate Phase 11 represents an investment in excess of $200M, Minister Ali said.
He urged prospective home owners to think positively about their allotments, pointing to the frosty reception that had greeted the establishment of the scheme at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, in which the Housing Ministry is now hard pressed to find empty house lots for distribution.
Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) , Myrna Pitt, declared home ownership to be a prerequisite for security, helping to consolidate the financial base of a family.
According to Pitt, events of this nature allow the CH&PA to provide all the information necessary for a prospective home owner, from application to construction, a sentiment echoed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Water, Emil Mc Garrell, who noted that the Ministry acknowledged that the allocation of house lots is much more than the construction of a home, but the building of lives.
In this regard, Mc Garrell said, the Ministry has adopted a holistic approach in which it seeks to address the needs of soon-to- be home owners.
A corps of financial institutions, including The New Building Society Ltd, Republic Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Scotiabank, Demerara Bank, Hand in Hand Trust Corporation, and Citizens Bank are now all partners with the Ministry at one stop shop events. They are joined by hardware giants National Hardware and Gafoors (Gafsons Industries Ltd.) ,and furniture giant Courts.
For the year, One Stop Shops have been held in Regions Two and Three. At the Region Two exercise in May, 5000 residents benefitted, while Region Three’s, held at the Housing Ministry for Onderneeming Phase 11, West Bank Demerara, and section EE Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, saw 600 people benefitting. (GINA)