Ali assures every deserving person of housing
MINISTER of Housing and Water Mr. Irfaan Ali has indicated that the Government is going to work tirelessly to ensure that every deserving person, who qualifies for a plot of land across the country, is allocated such, so that they can build their homes.
He gave the undertaking during his ministry’s first ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise at Albion Community Centre, Corentyne, Berbice on Saturday last.

“Our work in Region Six will continue and we will be proceeding aggressively, so that all our people can benefit from the housing programme,” Ali assured.
He said, from 2004 to 2007, the Government spent $497M in Region Six alone, resulting in direct benefits to 16,700 people through the development of 4,081 new house lots.
Ali said, since the re-election of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, $1.2 billion were expended to develop 5,563 lots across Region Six.
As a result, some 20,808 people have been the beneficiaries and, in 2010 alone, $687M would have seen the development and expansion of 1,482 house lots.

“This is proof of our investment and commitment to Region Six,” he declared.
Ali also implored the gathering to recognise and take advantage of all of the investments currently underway in Berbice, which is at a very interesting point of development.
“We cannot sit back and relax. We have already heard about the negotiations to have a bridge between Suriname and Guyana, which will bring with it great development and expansion in the Corentyne,” he urged.
Ali said, in addition, there are plans to construct a deep water harbour and, with oil exploration underway, the benefits to the region would be tremendous.
In that light, he challenged residents to start planning for the economic expansion and development that would occur because of the changing growth poles and indicators in Region Six.

TAKE ADVANTAGE
Ali pledged that his ministry will continue to work with the region to take advantage of all of the projected improvements.
“We are already seeing the benefits that these investments will bring to the community and, to accommodate this, we are looking at expanding housing here as well and looking at developing at least another 500 lots on the Corentyne,” he added.
Alluding to Government’s commitment to the alleviation of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life for low/moderate income groups through the provision of affordable shelter, Ali called on residents to acknowledge the efforts made to deliver on this promise.
“Do not judge us by what we say but look at our commitment. Judge the Government by our commitment and our delivery on those commitments,” he exhorted.
Ali also lauded the efforts of the staff of the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for their stalwart actions in the implementation of the ministry’s plans and programmes to deliver on the commitment.
He said: “I have tremendous confidence in the staff of the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in delivering the services set out in the mandate.”
Ali advised them to remain focused on their task and not be distracted by the negativity in certain sections of the media and reaffirmed his belief in their unquestionable performance.
Meanwhile, Region Six will be the beneficiary of another allocation exercise today, when a similar team visits the Kingston Development Centre at Corriverton, Corentyne.
To date, 23 housing schemes have been developed in Region Six.