Ali outlines vision whereby  every Guyanese family will have their own home
SEVEN hundred more people stand to benefit from  infrastructural works which have been completed in Phase Two of the new housing scheme at Number 76 Village in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne). Through Government’s intervention, roads, drains and a water distribution system were installed at a cost of $79M, Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Irfaan Ali disclosed a few days ago.

Speaking during his ministry’s allocation exercise at Kingston Development Centre, in Corriverton, Berbice he said similar facilities, costing $113M, were made available for 1,000 beneficiaries in the first phase.

Ali said the continued development of new and existing housing schemes in Region Six is to ensure that the residents benefit  as much as possible from sustainable and affordable housing.

He reminded the gathering that, in 2010, Government spent in excess of $700M on infrastructure in Berbice and provided 1,500 serviced house lots.

About the continuation of investment in the region, Ali announced that the Ministry of Housing and Water will build several under the Community Road Improvement Project (CRIP) and the Miscellaneous Roads Project in Region Six  areas, among them Ordnance Frontlands, Port Mourant, Albion, Nigg, Belvedere, Cumberland, Bush Lot, Liverpool, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Corriverton, expending another $700M.

“This Government of the people stands committed to the continued development and improvement of the lives of you, the people of Region Six,” he reiterated.

Ali also revealed that, for 2011, $3.6 billion will be utilised to further expand and develop housing schemes countrywide, resulting in the allocation of 7,500 house lots and the processing and distribution of 4,000 land titles.

TRUE REFLECTION
He noted, too, that the 2011 budget is a true reflection of the Government’s commitment to the people.

Alluding to the magnitude of developmental works in Berbice, Ali mentioned significant improvements at Glasgow, over the last three years, including the establishment of the Glasgow Housing Scheme and the Multi-Purpose Centre, with the expenditure of $450M.
He continued: “Further, we will have, under the Low Income Settlement Programme (LIS 2), 148 core homes completed countrywide and we are moving forward to improve our road network and water distribution system.”

Ali reminded residents that, since returning to office in 1992, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has formulated a National Development Programme which includes the rebuilding of democratic institutions, diversifying the economic base, rehabilitating and further developing the physical infrastructure, pursuing stable macro-economic policies and fighting poverty.
“These are just a few flagships which were aggressively pursued and implemented in all sectors of our country to mention and, to date, we have seen tremendous achievements under this current administration,” he said.

Ali implored all who live in the region to recognise the improvements and the impact they have had on their lives while reassuring them that it is always in the vision of the Government to ensure that every Guyanese family has access to their own home.

“Today, over 6,000 lots have been allocated where approximately 25,000 persons have directly benefitted from the intervention by the Government of Guyana,” he reported.