…more than $715M invested in housing and water sectors in Region Six
THE Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Housing and Water have invested more than $715M in the housing and water sectors in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) for 2011.
As proof of  continued efforts to sustain this development, the Housing Ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Friday allocated an additional 250 low-income lots at No.76 Village, Corentyne, in the second phase of development in the scheme, under the theme, ‘Affordable Housing for All, Establishing Sustainable Communities’.
Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, in his address, gave his assurances that the Guyana Government will continue aggressively along the path of providing sustainable development and affordable housing for Region Six residents.
“We are committed to the task of expanding the social infrastructure and to ensuring that our services are accessible, so that everyone will have equal opportunity to home ownership,” he asserted.
As to the benefits of this, Ali said the residents will be equipped financially and socially to positively contribute to the overall development of society as a whole.
Minister Ali also explained that they should feel a sense of pride at the degree of investment injected into their region, which has made available, to date, 350 serviced low-income lots at an approximate cost of $200M.
He said, “We are here to serve you and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the necessary investments are made to improve your equity position and to empower you.”
The residents of this scheme will also benefit from the CH&PA’s Core House Pilot Programme, under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme (LIS2) which addresses the issue of affordability and sustainability.
The minister also emphasised how important it is for citizens to be cognizant of mischievous persons who will seek to diminish and criticize the work of the Ministry of Housing.
“These persons who seek to criticize have no plan or alternative, and their approach to housing was to shut it down, they did not see this as a transformational tool,” he stated.
In addition, he explained that the water sector in the region has also witnessed significant transformation as many community members now have access to treated water and the overall aim is to implement a strategy so that eventually every household will have this opportunity.
Ali also stressed the importance of recognizing that all development takes time, sacrifice, and endurance.
Explaining the importance of this, he said, “These are all critical aspects to ensure that you live a life that adds to the transformation of society.”
He also took the opportunity to recognize the efforts of all of the people in the Guyanese society who, through resilience and fortitude, have helped to mould the  society.
“This year has been designated the International Year of People of African Descent, and I want to recognize the efforts of our African brothers and sisters,” Ali announced.
Region Six Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha, congratulated the new allotees and encouraged them to view the opportunity given  them as a remarkable achievement made possible by the Government’s  commitment to empower all citizens.
“Within a few weeks, over 300 persons were able to be owners of their own lots; this is an important step for all of you and it is one which will lead to your becoming the master of your own destiny,” he related.
He pointed out that persons could no longer dispute the fact that there has been tremendous development throughout the region, and lauded the efforts of the Minister of Housing and his dedicated team, as well as those members of the private sector who have collaborated to make each One Stop Shop exercise a success.
This is the second One Stop Shop for 2011 and the second for  Region Six.

Among the first persons to receive their lots on Friday were Mr. and Mrs. Omarao and their son, Raphael.
Suppressing tears and visibly shaken, Mrs. Nanda Omarao explained what the event signified for her family.
“I can’t believe that we are here and that when we leave we will have something of our own, something which we can pass on to our son,” she said.
The overjoyed landowner expressed her thanks to Minister Ali and to all who made it possible for her to be one step closer to home ownership.
She said, “We have been struggling for so long and I want to thank this Government for making this land available to poor people.”
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Pascal Mangal, another allotee, said, “We want land to build our homes and this Government is giving us that opportunity.”
The Ministry of Housing has announced that there are 18 One Stop Shop exercises planned for this year, which will result in the allocation of 7,000 lots across the country and which will bring with it benefits to thousands.