Building Expo trending towards accelerated future development – Minister Ali
– dedicates event to President Jagdeo,  people of African descent
Guyana’s Building Expo 2011, to be opened tomorrow,  is not only about the appeal of the construction sector, but also goes beyond what Minister of Housing and Water Mr. Irfaan Ali describes as “the new Guyana – the new infrastructure landscape in the country”.
Speaking to the Chronicle yesterday, Minister Ali alluded to recent sentiments made by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mr. Ralph Gonsalves that Guyana is the only bright spark in the region, and said the Building Expo is about promoting this future and the dynamic growth in the country.
This, he said, is in addition to the more critical component of showcasing to the Guyanese population, as well as the regional population, different products, designs, and opportunities in the construction sector.
Ali said Guyana’s second international building expo would have one of the largest investment delegations and that, coming from Trinidad alone, there are over 70 investors coming into Guyana for the Building Expo.
The Minister alluded to a remark by a Trinidadian investor who, after touring the site, exclaimed: “Nowhere in the Caribbean could one see this kind of investment.”  He was speaking of the models and exhibits being showcased at the Expo.
Minister Ali said that on display are items in 135 booths, as well as full-scale core model homes, among a plethora of other innovative exhibits and encouraged that this year’s Expo also provides to entrepreneurs expanded opportunities to allow themselves and their businesses to grow.
Stating that this Expo would appeal to all stakeholders at every level in the construction sector, the Minister reflected that this second Expo has gone beyond the groundmaking first Expo, which had been touted  at international levels, because of its surpassingly high standard.
He spoke of the level of private/public partnership and said that there are 135 booths, with a minimum investment in each booth of about $4 million.  “Do the maths,” he urged.
“This is a partnership that is getting stronger every day.  It is a partnership that has built a lot of trust, respect, and understanding…I think those are important elements when you want to establish an economy that is resilient and strong.”
He drew attention to the phenomenon of Guyana’s economy being the sole economy in this part of the world that has almost completely withstood the food crisis, which was the worst food crisis in the region; the worst economic crisis; the worst oil crisis; the worst crises in natural disasters – all crises that Guyana weathered and yet achieved positive economic growth.  All of these he ascribed to  President Bharrat Jagdeo’s visionary leadership and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s strong management of the economy.
The Minister said that, at tomorrow’s opening of the Building Expo, the architect of modern Guyana, President Jagdeo, who would be delivering the feature address, would certainly expound on the future of Guyana – the modern Guyana, the strong Guyana, the Guyana that stands aloft over all the Caribbean territories through concretization of the visionary leadership of the current government.
Noting that he can feel the energy and dynamism of the country, Ali  said the Building Expo is a direct response to the changes in and the strength of the economy, the growth in the sector, and the opportunities for expansion in the sector.
“There is nowhere else in the world that allocates, on a given day, seventeen houselots – including holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“On the East Bank alone we will have, over the next few years, more than 15,000 houselots….an occupancy rate that is going over 65 – 70%…and that is because there is easier accessibility to financing.
“I must take this opportunity to compliment the commercial banking sector and NBS (New Building Society), which have worked with us in removing the myth that accessing a loan is an elitist activity and something not readily available for the ordinary man.
“It is because of the one-stop-shops and the community outreaches, too, that we have been able to break down these barriers,” Minister Ali said.
Displaying extraordinary sensitivity and empathy, Minister Ali said that when an ordinary person encounters a well-dressed banking official they become intimidated; but the informality of the ambience in the outreaches dispel any inhibitions and people become confident to have dialogue with officials and outline their needs and capacities.
“These small changes,” stressed the minister, “influence a lot of what happens”, and this, he said, is the reason behind the theme ‘Bridging the Gap: Transforming Guyana’.
He named major bridges and internal bridges that have facilitated expanded comfortability in communities and increased economic social activity.
“We also have,” he said, “the bridging of our borders, which is critical… the Takutu Bridge, which now has thousands of vehicles traversing every day, the opening of new trails and correlating expanding opportunities.
“There was one time in our country when regions five and six were like two borders, he said, and alluded to the difficult times when goods perished and commuters suffered because of the length of time it took to cross the Berbice river, whereas today “…we cross it seamlessly, and that is another reason that we have ‘Bridging the Gap’.”
Minister Ali also spoke of future plans to bridge the Corentyne River, which he said will afford tremendous marketing opportunities for businesspersons.
Alluding to the other component of the theme, which is ‘Transforming Guyana’, Minister Ali expounded on the many transformational changes being effected in the country, including the new radar system, four-lane highways, the International Convention Centre, among others.
“Separate and apart from this,” informed the minister, “the CH&PA has been dealing with hundreds of applications over the last few months for new and modern buildings in Georgetown.
“We have plans for buildings that would have parking indoors because of the new dynamics  and landscape.
“We have an application for a 20-storey office complex, and a revolving 7-storey restaurant; as well as over 30 buildings on Sheriff Street alone that would change the landscape.” Among these plans are a 10-storey apartment complex and a new mall.
He spoke of a Trinidadian company that is preparing to move their industrial and other operations to Guyana, among a plethora of others, which he said points to the confidence being expressed in Guyana’s economy.
He lauded the local private sector for its dynamism, but also warned that the local private sector needs to be more pro-active, and also to build new partnerships with other companies “…because, in my view, if you do not use the opportunities being provided today, it would be far more difficult to get in after that, because this is the period of accumulation and transformation.”
He affirmed that this Expo also offers opportunity to the ordinary person so that they can be more informed and educated about the construction sector and the many products and choices available on the local market.
He revealed that there would also be presented at tomorrow’s event ‘The President’s Award’ for innovation and research.  He expressed pleasure that the President is leading the process by associating the award to himself, which indicates the “level of seriousness we want to place on research and development.”
Minister Ali enthused, “This economy is set to take off.  We have been very lucky in Guyana to have had the strong stewardship of His Excellency Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, well-supported by the able Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh.
“When the critics are out there, the final analysis and judge will be our people,” concluded the Minister.
Minister Ali said that this 2nd Building Expo is a celebration of the foundation that was laid by President Jagdeo and asserted that it would be unconscionable for anyone not to recognize that he has laid an excellent foundation.
He encouraged every Guyanese citizen to build, strengthen and advance the future development plans in Guyana.  “…and I know that he will be there shoulder to shoulder… to the wheel as we move this country forward,” Ali said.
Enumerating the achievements of his ministry, Ali said that for this year alone there have been 5,000 new landowners, with 1000 allocations during the last month, for whom title would soon be provided.
The Minister also paid tribute, recognising contributions to Guyana’s development paradigm by Guyanese of African ancestry, especially this year when they are being celebrated internationally.  “This year’s Expo is a symbol of the work that our African brothers and sisters did, not only in Guyana but across the world,” reiterated Minister Ali.
“As a young person, I think we are in exciting times…dynamic times.  The Building Expo will help to create a construction sector that is second to none.”