With 17,000 lots targeted…
– on East Bank Demerara corridor
MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, said the housing strategy is integral to growth, economic expansion and
poverty reduction in the country. Speaking on Wednesday during an inspection of ongoing works at Eccles, Providence and Herstelling, he said the East Bank
Infrastructure Development Project was made possible through a supplementary provision which allowed for the purchase of land from
GuySuCo to extend housing along the East Bank Demerara corridor.
According to him, since last year, his ministry has been promoting private/public partnership, integrated housing
development and social landscaping, which takes into consideration the important elements of the economy.
“This ensures that there is enough space for economic infrastructure along with commercial development to support such a large
development as this, ”Ali said.
He said, at the end of the East Bank Development, approximately 15,000 house lots will be developed as early as April, in
keeping with the commitment made to the people.
Ali said: “The land clearing exercise is ongoing now and the area we are concentrating on first is located immediately behind
Eccles, which will accommodate 100 lots, bordered on one side by the Agricola main canal and on the other by Providence.”
“The first phase, in terms of roads, water and electricity, would be completed by April and we will have the first 1,000 lots
allocated here, at a total cost of $800M, for the first investment on infrastructure,” he elaborated.
In addition to the land clearing, the Housing Ministry has also embarked on clearance of the main high dam which would provide
access to land in the Providence area, behind the National Stadium, Ali said.
He continued; “In that area, we have approximately 200 acres of land which will be set aside for commercial development,
including major employment generating activities for thousands of people, which will create a supporting environment for the large
scheme.”
Ali said there are about 13 types of developers who will be working on developing three to four acres of land, bordered by the
Mocha main road and the back of the Stadium, which forms part of the public/private partnership.
About the proposed development of a re-migrant scheme, he said that will be located almost immediately after the designated
commercial area bordered by the main access road, which would lead to the East Bank main highway.
“All of the development would be integrated into the expansion of the four-lane highway from Providence to Grove, this year,”
he informed.
He reiterated that the East Bank Development Project is very integrated, very wide and also includes developing the Herstelling
component, located just before Mocha and which will comprise nearly 600 house lots.
PRIVATE DEVELOPERS
“We hope to have this available by August of this year and, along the corridor, there will be 1,500 lots available, including
those of private developers, spawning a section of the re-migrant scheme that will be ready, as well,” Ali pointed out.
He announced that huge housing developments are also taking place in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and
Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, will accommodate 1,000 new lots, by August, too.
“After that, we will proceed to Recht door Zee, Belle Vue, Leonora and other areas which will see another 2,000 houses in all,”
Ali said.
He said 1,000 more lots will be available at Amelia’s Ward in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) by August, after which time
the Ministry will focus on Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) where infrastructural work has begun and Region Nine (Upper
Takutu/Upper Essequibo) is also targeted to benefit from the intensified housing drive this year.
“A massive amount of work will be done this year and a target of 17,000 lots was set by President Bharrat Jagdeo to be
allocated by the end of 2011 but, by August, we are going to surpass that target by leaps and bounds,” Ali assured.
He expressed concern over the misinformation being propagated by members of the opposition party, Alliance For Change
(AFC).
Ali charged that the AFC has been misinforming the public and questioning the expenditure of $4 billion and where it went.
He said the investment was made in the purchase of land from GuySuCo for development, so that persons could be empowered
and lives improved, resulting in the reduction of poverty and increased economic growth.
“It is worrying when the Opposition, especially the AFC, would question expenditure of that nature, which aims, directly,
at transformation, social upliftment and poverty reduction,” Ali lamented.